Atriplex lapathifolia

Rydb.

Sorrel leaf orach

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds Potential hazards — see below

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Stan Shebs (via Wikimedia Commons)

Summary

An annual growing to 0.9 m (3ft) tall. Wind-pollinated and monoecious. Adapts to 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 both dry and moist conditions with drought tolerance. Withstands strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Description

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Young leaves - cooked. Seed - cooked. 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.

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

North America, USA,

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. It is quite possibly no more than a synonym for A. patula. It does not appear in the Flora of North America and so this name is of rather dubious standing. 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.