Thickleaf Orach

Atriplex carnosa

Physical Characteristics

Atriplex carnosa is a ANNUAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft). It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Western N. America

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked and used as a spinach[85]. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a meal and used as a thickener in soups etc, or can be mixed with cereal flours to enrich the protein content when making bread, cakes, biscuits etc[161, 177].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

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.