Hastate Orach

Atriplex hastata

Physical Characteristics

Atriplex hastata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. 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. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

Most of Europe, including Britain, south from Scandanavia to N. Africa, east to Asia.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked[5, 74, 177]. Used as a spinach substitute, they have a fairly bland flavour and are often mixed with stronger tasting leaves[9, 183]. Seed - cooked[9, 177]. Ground into a powder and used to thicken soups etc or added to wheat flour and used in making bread. Very fiddly to harvest because the seed is quite small.

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.