Atriplex subcordata — Edible Plant

Summary

Annual orache growing to 0.5 m tall. Monoecious (both male and female flowers on same plant); wind-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy and medium loamy soils, well-drained preferred, and survives in nutritionally poor, mildly acid, neutral, very alkaline, and saline soils. Requires full sun; handles drought and maritime exposure.

Description

Annual orache growing to 0.5 m tall. Monoecious (both male and female flowers on same plant); wind-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy and medium loamy soils, well-drained preferred, and survives in nutritionally poor, mildly acid, neutral, very alkaline, and saline soils. Requires full sun; handles drought and maritime exposure.

Edible Uses

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

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

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.