Practical
Plants

Atriplex powellii

Powell's Saltweed

an annual member of the Atriplex genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
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 and young plants - cooked[2][3] and used as greens[6][7]. A salty flavour, they are often used as a flavouring for other foods[7]. Seed - cooked[2][3]. Used in piñole or ground into a meal and used as a thickener in making bread or mixed with flour in making bread[7].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Environment

Range
South-western N. America
Habitat
Alkaline flats and badlands, Montana to S. Alberta, south to Arizona and New Mexico[5]. 1500 - 1800 metres in Arizona, often on denuded land.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow April/May in situ[1]. 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. Requires a position in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil[4]. Tolerates saline and very alkaline soils[4]. Although normally monoecious, plants are sometimes dioecious.

References

  1. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩

  2. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Livingstone. B. Flora of Canada National Museums of Canada 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-660-00025-3

    ↩

  6. Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939-00-00

    ↩

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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