Atriplex glabriuscula

Edmondston

Orach, Northern saltbush, Scotland orache

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Vegetable Potential hazards — see below 198 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Atriplex glabriuscula, usually known in English as Babington's orache, is a prostrate to ascending plant that occurs on shingle beaches in NW Europe, and (as an introduction) in NE North America. It is a characteristic annual of strandline vegetation at the top of sand and shingle beaches.

Description

A herb. It lies along the ground. It can grow 20-100 cm high. The branches are opposite. The stems are green and striped. The leaves are 1-10 cm long by 1-8 cm wide. The seeds can be black or brown. They are 3-4 mm wide.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Young leaves - cooked. Seed - used in piñole or ground into a meal and used as a thickener in making bread or mixed with flour in making bread.

Traditional Uses

The leaves can be eaten as a vegetable. The seeds can be ground into a flour and used as a thickener or mixed with wheat flour for bread.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

No member of this genus contains any toxins, all have more or less edible leaves. However, if grown with artificial fertilizers, they may concentrate harmful amounts of nitrates in their leaves.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in salty and brackish marshes. It can grow in coastal regions. It is best in sunny locations.

Where It Grows

Britain, Canada, Europe, Greenland, Iceland, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Succeeds in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil. Most species in this genus tolerate saline and very alkaline soils. This species is either very closely related to, or no more than part of, A. hastata.

Propagation

Seed - sow April/May in situ. Germination is usually rapid.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 100-300 Atriplex species. They have also been put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Synonyms

Atriplex babingtonii J. Woodsand others

Also Known As

Bracted orache

References (3)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 47
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
www.ediblewildfood.com