Atriplex

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Atriplex
Desert holly, Atriplex hymenelytra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Subfamily: Chenopodioideae Genus: Atriplex L.
Species
About 100-200 species, including: Atriplex alaskensis Atriplex amnicola Atriplex californica Atriplex calotheca Atriplex canescens Atriplex confertifolia Atriplex coronata Atriplex glabriuscula Atriplex halimus Atriplex heterosperma Atriplex hortensis Atriplex hymenelytra Atriplex laciniata Atriplex lentiformis Atriplex littoralis Atriplex longipes Atriplex nitens Atriplex nummularia Atriplex nuttallii Atriplex oblongifolia Atriplex patula Atriplex polycarpa Atriplex praecox Atriplex prostrata Atriplex rosea Atriplex sibirica Atriplex tatarica

Atriplex is a plant genus of 100-200 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache (or orach). The genus is quite variable and widely distributed. The genus includes many desert and seashore plants and halophytes, as well as plants of moist environments. Saltbushes are extremely tolerant of salt content in the ground: their name derives from the fact that they retain salt in their leaves, which makes them of great use in areas affected by soil salination. Many species are edible. However, the favored species for human consumption is A. hortensis.

The Garden Orache (A. hortensis), also called red orach, mountain spinach or French spinach, is an annual leaf vegetable with a salty, spinach-like taste. The plant grows 1-2 m (3-6 ft) in height and the leaves are used cooked or in salads. It was commonly grown in Mediterranean regions from early times until spinach became the more favored leaf vegetable of choice. The leaves can come in red, white and green varieties. The green leaves were once used to color pasta in Italy. Another common use of orach was to mix with the herb sorrel to balance out its acid flavor.

The plant is also used as an ornamental plant in landscaping.

Atriplex species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Atriplex.

[edit] External links and References

• Davidson, Alan. Oxford Companion to Food (1999). "Orach", p. 556. ISBN 0-19-211579-0
• CSIRO Information Sheet: Saltbush lifts sheep meat vitamin content: Meat from sheep which have grazed on saltbush has surprisingly high levels of vitamin E, is leaner and more hydrated than regular lamb and has consumer appeal equal to grain-fed lamb. The vitamin E levels could have animal health benefits while extending the shelf-life and maintaining the fresh red colour of saltbush lamb.
• Images of A. muelleri
• Summary of CSIRO Scientific Article: Examines the nutritive value and preference by sheep of two native Australian saltbush species, River Saltbush (A. amnicola) and Old Man Saltbush (A. nummularia).
• Image of Spiny Fruited Saltbush (A. spinibractea)
• Images of two saltbush varieties from North America, Four Wing Saltbush (A. canescens) and Desert Saltbush (A. polycarpa)
• A list of sereveral varieties of Atriplex (some links have pictures)