ATRIPLEX PATULA

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- Common orache

Homotypic 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:-

1) 15-80 cm, angular or ridged, with long internodes, green with stramineous

stripes.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate or opposite.

a) lower, 2-10 x 1.5-3 cm, oblong- to rhombic-hastate or obovate-oblong without

lateral lobes, entire or irregularly toothed, cuneate to attenuate at the base,

obtuse or subacute, green or greyish-green to subglaucous ± glabrous or

farinose.

b) Upper, 2-5 x 0.3-1.5 cm, oblong- to linear-lanceolate ± entire, (without basal

lobes), cuneate-tapering at the base, acute at the apex, petioles distinct, 1-3

cm.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, to 50 cm, lax, paniculate, ebracteate above, with small leaf-like

bracts in the lower part.

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

3) Perianth segments, in the male flowers 3-5, connate to the middle, c. 0.8 x 0.4

mm, oblong, cucullate, farinose.

4) Stamens, 3-5.

a) filaments, glabrous, c. 0.8 mm

b) anthers yellow.

5) Bracteoles, connate at the base or almost to the middle, sessile or shortly

petiolate, c. 1.5-5(-7) mm, broadly rhombic-deltoid to almost orbicular, acute to

subacute, never reflexed, at maturity, dentate or entire, dorsally tuberculate or

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

Fruit:-

1) Seed vertical, ± uniform, lenticular, c. 2 mm diam.

a) testa, shiny dark brown or black, almost smooth or very minutely punctate

Key features:-

1) Lower leaves cuneate or attenuate at the base.

2) Fruiting bracteoles triangular- to rhombic-ovate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

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