ATRIPLEX PATULA

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- Common orache

Synonyms:- Atriplex hastata var. patula, Atriplex hastata subsp. patula,

Atriplex oblongifolia var. patula, Atriplex patula subsp. typica,

Schizotheca patula, Teutliopsis patula.

Meaning:- Atriplex (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, from the ancient Greek meaning black and intertwined.

Patula (L) Spreading, opened up, broad.

General description:- Erect or prostrate-spreading, much-branched annual.

Stems:-

a) 15-80 cm.

b) angular or ridged, with long internodes.

c) green with straw-coloured (stramineous) stripes.

Leaves:-

a) alternate or opposite.

1) Lower:

a) 2-10 x 1.5-3 cm.

b) oblong- to rhombic-hastate or obovate-oblong without lateral lobes, entire or

irregularly toothed, wedge-shaped (cuneate) to narrowing gradually (attenuate)

at the base, obtuse or subacute.

c) green or greyish-green to subglaucous.

d) ± hairleas (glabrous) or a thin powdery covering (farinose).

2) Upper:

a) 2-5 x 0.3-1.5 cm.

b) oblong- to linear-lanceolate, ± entire (without basal lobes), cuneate-tapering at

the base, acute at the apex.

c) stalks (petioles) distinct, 1-3 cm.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) to 50 cm.

b) lax, paniculate, ebracteate above, with small leaf-like bracts in the lower part.

2) Flowers:

a) solitary or clustered, axillary or on elongate spike-like branches.

3) Perianth segments:

a) in the male flowers 3-5, united (connate) to the middle, c. 0.8 x 0.4 mm,

oblong, obtuse-hooded (cucullate), farinose.

4) Stamens:

a) 3-5;

b) filaments, glabrous, c. 0.8 mm

c) anthers yellow.

5) Bracteoles:

a) connate at the base or almost to the middle.

b) sessile or shortly stalked, c. 1.5-5(-7) mm.

c) broadly rhombic-deltoid to almost orbicular, acute to subacute, never reflexed

at maturity, dentate or entire.

d) dorsally tuberculate or smooth.

e) herbaceous or very thick and fleshy, not hardened (indurated) in fruit.

Fruit:-

1) Seed:

a) vertical.

b) ± uniform, lenticular, c. 2 mm diam.

c) testa shiny dark brown or black, almost smooth or very minutely dotted,

(punctate).

Key features:-

1) Lower leaves cuneate or attenuate at the base.

2) Fruiting bracteoles triangular- to rhombic-ovate.

Habitat:- In a variety of open, disturbed, nutrient rich habitats, offen an early

coloniser. Salt tolerant, but not halophytic, 0-800 m. (2200m. in dolines).

Distribution:- Throughout Greece , much of Europe and temperate Asia, introduced

elsewhere.Native to C Asia, cultivated and naturalised in C & S Europe. Limited

distribution on Crete.

Flowering time:- June-Oct

Photos by:- An Other