Atriplex patula
Common names
orache
Family
Amaranthaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
ATRPAT
Conservation status
Not applicable
Similar taxa
Stem smooth, slender, 0.3 to 1.2 m long, with numerous spreading branches. Leaves petioled, fleshy, triangular, lanceolate or linear, mostly opposite, usually mealy, especially on lower surface. Flowers small without petals; male and female flowers borne separately on the same plant in scattered spikes at ends of branches and in axils of upper leaves. (Wax, Fawcett and Isely 1981).
Year naturalised
1853
Origin
Europe, W. Asia
Etymology
atriplex: From an ancient Latin name whose derivation is uncertain, but a possible explanation is the name comes from the Greek a- ‘without’ and traphein ‘nourishment’ because many of these species grow in arid desert soils
patula: Spreading
Reproduction
seeds
Seed
Seeds round, grey, bourne between 2 triangular green bracts (Wax, Fawcett and Isely 1981).