Atriplex argentea
Silvery Orach
an annual member of the Atriplex genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Chenopodiaceae
- Genus
- Atriplex
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
No member of this genus contains any toxins, all have more or less edible leaves. However, if grown with artificial fertilizers, they may concentrate harmful amounts of nitrates in their leaves.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - cooked, or boiled with other foods as a flavouring[9][1][2][3]. The tender young leaves can be used as greens[5][7]. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a meal and used as a thickener in soups etc, or be mixed with flour when making bread etc[9][7]. The immature seeds can be eaten together with their surrounding calyx[7].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves have been used as a fumigant in the treatment of pain[7]. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to spider bites[7]. A cold infusion of the plant has been used to treat sickness caused by drinking bad water, and to purify the water[7]. A poultice of the chewed roots has been applied to sores and rashes[7]. An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of stomach aches[7].
- Product or use
- Analgesic
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Stings
- Product or use
- Stomachic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A cold infusion of the plant has been used to purify water[7].
Environment
- Range
- N. America - Manitoba and south to California.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow April/May in situ. Germination is usually rapid.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though it should be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil[4]. Most species in this genus tolerate saline and very alkaline soils[4].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939-00-00
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9