If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Temperate Plants

Atriplex cristata

Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Amaranthaceae


There is some disagreement over the correct name for this species. The Flora of N. America[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
] treats it as Atriplex pentandra Standl., but we are following the treatment in the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. However, since this latter treatment is still in review(2016), it could be that the name will be changed to Areiplex pentandra later[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Atriplex aldamae Griseb.

Atriplex arenaria Nutt.

Atriplex confinis Standl.

Atriplex littoralis (Jacq.) Fawc. & Rendle

Atriplex mucronata Raf.

Atriplex pentandra Standl.

Atriplex rosea arenaria (Nutt.) Dostál

Axyris pentandra Jacq.

Obione arenaria (Nutt.) Moq.

Obione cristata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Moq.

Obione mucronata (Phil.) Ulbr.

Obione pentandra (Jacq.) Ulbr.

Common Name:

Atriplex cristata

General Information

Atriplex cristata is an annual to perennial plant producing a clump of much-branched, sprawing to erect stems that often become more or less woody near the base; it can grow 30 - 100cm tall[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

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.

Botanical References

43
Title
Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition
Publication
 
Author
Fernald. M. L.
Publisher
American Book Co.; New York
Year
1950
ISBN
0442222505
Description
A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
,
235
Title
An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Publication
 
Author
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Publisher
Dover Publications. New York.
Year
1970
ISBN
0-486-22642-5
Description
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
,
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Range

N. America - Coastal areas from Massachusets to Florida, Texas and northern Mexico; much of the Caribbean; S. America - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador

Habitat

Sandy coastal beaches and borders of salt marshes[
43
Title
Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition
Publication
 
Author
Fernald. M. L.
Publisher
American Book Co.; New York
Year
1950
ISBN
0442222505
Description
A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
,
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height0.40 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generally succeed in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Most species in this genus tolerate saline and very alkaline soils[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked. A salty taste[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in situ. Germination is usually rapid.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Atriplex+cristata>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.