Atriplex prostrata
Boucher ex DC. OracheProstrate to ascending annual herb, to c. 50 cm high, monoecious. Leaves petiolate, glabrous or commonly mealy beneath; lower leaves opposite, deltoid, hastate or sagittate, 1.5–7 cm long, 1–6 cm wide, entire or sparsely toothed; upper leaves alternate, triangular to ovate with tapered bases, smaller than lower. Inflorescence paniculate with male and female flowers mixed within small clusters. Fruiting bracteoles sessile, ovate, or triangular, 3–6 mm long, free virtually to base, somewhat thickened with spongy tissue at least toward base, margins entire or toothed, dorsal surface smooth or with a pair of broad tubercles. Fruits most of year.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Native to Europe, Asia, North America. Common in seasonally or permanently wet sites, on silty, often saline soils (e.g. fringing saltmarsh vegetation) in the south of the State. Mostly near-coastal, occasional along streams, drains, ditches and inland (e.g. Red Cliffs, Lake Condah, Maryborough, Bacchus Marsh, Melbourne suburbs).
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Chenopodiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 129–199. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
