Atriplex patula
L. Spear OracheErect annual to c. 120 cm high, monoecious. Leaves petiolate, alternate, the lower lanceolate, 6–12 cm long, 2–6 cm wide, with or without a pair of falcate, forward-directed basal lobes, entire or irregularly toothed, glabrous or at least the lower surface mealy, particularly on younger leaves; upper leaves mostly entire, narrower and smaller than lower. Inflorescence spike-like or narrowly paniculate with male and female flowers mixed within small clusters which may be continuous along branches of inflorescence. Fruiting bracteoles mealy, sessile, rhombic, hastate, or narrowly triangular, 3–7 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, not thickened, margins united from base to about the widest part, entire or with 1 or 2 short teeth at the lateral angles, dorsal surface smooth or with 2 or 4 slender protuberances. Fruits Mar.–Apr.
Naturalised SA, NSW, Tas. Native to Europe. Records of this ruderal and domestic weed in Victoria are based on specimens apparently of garden origin from Creswick and Bendigo areas.
It is perhaps more widespread, but overlooked for the very similar A. prostrata and A. australasica.
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
