Atriplex hortensis
Orach
an annual member of the Atriplex genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Chenopodiaceae
- Genus
- Atriplex
- Life cycle
- annual
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 1.8 m
- Spread
- 0.3 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. The seed contains saponins[11]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching the seed or flour in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or cooked[7][3][14][15]. Used like spinach[19], they have a bland flavour and are traditionally mixed with sorrel leaves in order to modify the acidity of the latter[6]. Another report says that the flavour is stronger than spinach[12]. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a meal and used in soups etc or be mixed with flour when making bread[5][6]. The seed is said to be a good source of vitamin A[11]. The seed is also said to contain some saponins[11]. See the notes above on toxicity. The seed is small and fiddly to harvest and use.
- 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 are diuretic, emetic and purgative[1][13]. They are also said to be a stimulant to the metabolism and an infusion is used as a spring tonic and a remedy for tiredness and nervous exhaustion[19]. They have been suggested as a folk remedy for treating plethora and lung ailments[13]. The leaves are said to be efficacious when used externally in the treatment of gout[17]. The seeds, mixed with wine, are said to cure yellow jaundice. They also excite vomiting[13]. The fruits are purgative and emetic[13]. Liniments and emollients prepared from the whole plant, like the juice of the plant, are said to be folk remedies for indurations and tumours, especially of the throat[13].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Purgative
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A blue dye is obtained from the seed[18][1]. The plant is a potential source of biomass. Yields of 14 tonnes per hectare have been achieved in the vicinity of Landskrona and Lund, Sweden. Higher yields might be expected farther south. If the leaf-protein were extracted, this should leave more than 13 tonnes biomass as by-product, for potential conversion to liquid or gaseous fuels[13].
- Product or use
- Biomass
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- Europe. An occasional garden escape in Britain[4].
- Habitat
- Arable land, waste and disturbed ground, shingle etc[19].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow March to August in situ, only just covering the seed[2]. Germination is usually good and rapid[K].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Orach is a very easily grown plant, doing equally well in a wide variety of well-drained soils, though rich, moisture-retentive soils give the quick growth that is necessary for the production of tender leaves[15][16][9][13]. Plants require a position in full sun and are tolerant of saline and very alkaline soils[9]. They thrive in any temperate climate, and are drought resistant[13]. Orach is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 30 to 140cm, an average annual temperature in the range of 6 to 24°C, and a pH of 5.0 to 8.2[13]. Orach was formerly cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties[6]. It can be grown as a warm weather substitute for spinach[6]. Some forms of this species have bronze or deep red leaves and are occasionally grown as ornamental plants, their leaves taste the same as the green-leafed forms[K]. Plants are fast-growing[10] and usually self-sow quite freely if the surrounding soil is disturbed by hoeing etc[K]. They tolerate hot weather well, but soon go to seed so successive sowings at 4 weekly intervals are required during the growing season if a continuous supply of leaves is required[13]. Leaves can be harvested 40 - 60 days after sowing the seed[13]. This species is a poor companion plant for potatoes, inhibiting their growth when growing close to them[8].
References
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0
Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00
Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00
Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2