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Atriplex canescens
  • Grey Sage Brush

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Atriplex genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Hedge
    Hedge
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Atriplex canescens has 0 edible uses listed
Atriplex canescens has 0 material uses listed
Atriplex canescens has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

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

Notes

Leaves - cooked or raw[85, 94. A very acceptable taste with a salty tang[K]. The leaves can be used at any time of the year though winter harvesting must be light because the plant is not growing much at this time of year[K].

Seed - cooked[1][2]. Ground into a powder, mixed with cereals and used in making cakes etc or used as a piñole[3][4][5]. It is small and very fiddly to utilize[K]. The ground up seed can also be mixed with water and drunk as a refreshing beverage[5].

The burnt green herb yields culinary ashes high in minerals and these are used by the Hopi Indians to enhance the colour of blue corn products[5][6]. The ashes can be used like baking soda[6].

Unknown part

Colouring
Drink

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

A good hedge in maritime areas, it responds well to trimming[K].

The leaves and stems were burnt by the Hopi Indians and the alkaline ash used to maintain the blue colour when cooking blue corn[7]. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and stems[6]. The leaves can be made into a soapy lather and used as a hair wash[6].

The plant has fire-retardant properties and can be used for barrier plantings to control bush fires[8].

Unknown part

Dye
Fire retardant
Potash

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves can be made into a soapy lather and used as a wash on itches and rashes such as chickenpox[6]. A poultice of the crushed leaves can be applied to ant bites to reduce the pain and swelling[6].

Unknown part

Skin
Stings

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Hedge

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow April/May in a cold frame in a compost of peat and sand. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 13°c[9]. Pot up the seedlings when still small into individual pots, grow on in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a very sandy compost in a frame. Very easy. Pot up as soon as they start to root (about 3 weeks) and plant out in their permanent positions late in the following spring[K].

Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November/December in a frame. Very easy. Pot up in early spring and plant out in their permanent position in early summer[K].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Atriplex canescens. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a position in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil[10][9][8]. Tolerates saline and very alkaline soils[8]. Plants are very tolerant of maritime exposure, though they dislike wet climates[K]. Resents root disturbance when large. Succeeds in a hot dry position.

A very ornamental plant[11], though it is liable to succumb to winter wet when grown on heavy or rich soils[10][8]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Occasional monoecious plants are found[12].

Individual plants can change sex. The change is more generally from female to male and is apparently associated with stress such as cold or drought. It would appear that the change confers a survival advantage on the plant[12].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Atriplex canescens. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Atriplex canescens.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Atriplex canescens
Genus
Atriplex
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[6]
Material uses & Functions
[7][6][8]
Botanic
[10][11][8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Hedge
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Salinity
  • Drought
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1.8 x 1.8 meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
dioecious

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"image:Atriplex canescens habit.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Atriplex canescens habit.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Atriplex canescens habit.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Atriplex canescens habit.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. ISBN 0-911010-54-8 (1962-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.66.76.8 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art (1939-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (1988-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.1 Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)

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Facts about "Atriplex canescens"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyChenopodiaceae +
Belongs to genusAtriplex +
Functions asHedge +
Has common nameGrey Sage Brush +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves + and Seeds +
Has edible useColouring +, Drink + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceMaritime exposure +, High wind +, Drought + and Salinity +
Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Wind +
Has flowers of typeDioecious +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imageAtriplex canescens habit.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye +, Fire retardant + and Potash +
Has mature height1.8 +
Has mature width1.8 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useSkin + and Stings +
Has primary imageAtriplex canescens habit.jpg +
Has salinity toleranceTolerant +
Has search nameatriplex canescens + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameAtriplex canescens +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates maritime exposureYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +