Atriplex australasica
Moq. Native OracheErect annual to c. 1 m high, monoecious. Leaves petiolate, alternate, the lower lanceolate to narrow-rhombic, 5–10 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide, entire or lobed, often with a pair of forward-directed basal lobes, glabrous or mealy beneath, particularly when young; upper leaves mostly entire, linear, smaller than lower. Inflorescence spike-like or narrowly paniculate with male and female flowers mixed within small clusters which may be continuous along branches of inflorescence. Fruiting bracteoles sessile, deltoid to nearly circular, 3–5 mm long and wide, free from midway or lower, thickened, usually with large spongy cells apparent at least near base when mature, margins entire or shallowly toothed, dorsal surface smooth or commonly with 2 warty protuberances. Fruits Aug.–May.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, EGL. Also SA, NSW, Tas. Occurs on the margins of salt and brackish lakes in the north and west of the state (e.g. near Mildura, Wyperfeld National Park, Lake Corangamite, Lake Connewarre), mostly coastal or estuarine in the east (Gippsland Lakes, Wingan Inlet, Mallacoota area).
Variable in leaf size and degree of lobing. Plants from inland sites generally have narrow entire leaves and those from the east have broader, coarsely toothed or lobed leaves.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Chenopodiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 129–199. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
