Chenopodium candolleanum
| Seaberry Saltbush | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chenopodium candolleanum at Cape Woolamai, Victoria | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Subfamily: | Chenopodioideae |
| Tribe: | Atripliceae |
| Genus: | Chenopodium |
| Species: | C. candolleanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Chenopodium candolleanum (Moq.) S.Fuentes & Borsch | |
| Synonyms | |
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Chenopodium candolleanum[1] (Syn. Rhagodia candolleana), common name Seaberry Saltbush, is a shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, native to Australia.
Description
This species forms a dense shrub up to 2 metres in height[2]
It shiny green leaves are thick and almost succulent, with a paler underside. These are 1 to 3 cm long and 4-12mm wide with the widest part of the leaf towards the base.[2]
The flowers are small and pale and arranged in panicles, appearing between December and April (early summer to mid autumn) in the species native range. These are followed by flattened dark-red fruits which are up to 4 mm in diameter.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in 1840 in Chenopodearum Monographica Enumeratio by Alfred Moquin-Tandon.[3] After phylogenetical research, Fuentes-Bazan et al. (2012) included this species in genus Chenopodium.[1]
The species name Rhagodia baccata has sometimes been misapplied to this species.[3]
Two subspecies are currently recognised:[1]
- Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. argenteum (Paul G. Wilson) S.Fuentes & Borsch - has a silvery appearance[4]
- Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. candolleanum
Distribution
The species occurs in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.[2][5] Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. candolleanum is a coastal plant, found on cliffs and dunes, often scrambling among other shrubs.[2] The subspecies Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. argenteum occurs near inland salt lakes.[4]
Uses
The leaves can be cooked and eaten.[6] Aborigines are reported to have consumed the berries, despite their bitterness.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Susy Fuentes-Bazan, Guilhem Mansion, Thomas Borsch: Towards a species level tree of the globally diverse genus Chenopodium (Chenopodiaceae). In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Vol. 62, No. 1, 2012, ISSN 1055-7903, p. 372, DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.006
- 1 2 3 4 5 Costermans, L. (1981). Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia. Australia: Rigby. ISBN 072701403X.
- 1 2 "Rhagodia candolleana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- 1 2 "Rhagodia candolleana Moq. ssp. argentea Paul G.Wilson". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
- ↑ Jacobs, S.W.L. "Rhagodia candolleana Moq.". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- 1 2 Low, T. (1991). Wild Food Plants Of Australia. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207169306.
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