Atriplex gmelinii

C. A. Mey. ex Bong.

Gmelin's Saltbush

Amaranthaceae Edible: Seeds, Leaves Potential hazards — see below 338 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A fast-growing annual reaching 0.5 m (1ft 8in) tall. Flowers from July to September with seeds ripening August to October. Wind-pollinated and monoecious. Thrives in light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soils with poor to moderate fertility. Tolerates mildly acid to very alkaline and saline soils. Requires full sun and handles drought well, though adapts to both dry and moist conditions. Maritime-tolerant.

Description

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 soups and stews, or mixed with cereal flours to enhance their nutritional value when making bread, biscuits, cakes etc. The seeds are up to 3mm wide.

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.

Where It Grows

Alaska, Asia, China, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though it should be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual.Although the range of this species is said to include China, it does not appear in the Flora of China. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil. Most species in this genus tolerate saline and very alkaline soils.

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 angustifolia var. obtusa Cham.and others

References (3)

Bowser, M., 2017, Handout on Edible Plants of the Kenai Peninsula. USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge p 8
Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math. 4:160. 1838
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/