Atriplex semibaccata  R.Br.   Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)   Australia   Australian Saltbush

                                         May Photo

Plant Characteristics: Prostrate suffrutescent perennial, the stems much branched, 2-12 dm. long, at first scurfy, then glabrate; lvs. many, alternate, short petioled, elliptic-oblong, 1-3 cm. long, acute or obtuse, irregularly repand-dentate to subentire; male fls. in small terminal glomerules, female 1-few in the axils; fruiting bracts fleshy, becoming red, sessile, rhombic, 3.5-5 mm. long, compressed, united at base, entire to denticulate, the faces nerved, otherwise plane; seed dark, 1.5-2 mm. long.

Habitat: Abundant in saline waste places, roadsides, etc.; many Plant Communities; cismontane from Monterey Co. to n. L. Calif. and in Imperial V.  April-Dec.

Name:  Atriplex is the ancient Latin name for these plants.  (Dale 95).  Latin, semi, prefix meaning half and Latin bacca, a small round fruit such as a berry; also that which is berry-like in shape.  (Jaeger 33,235).

General:  Very common in the study area.  Photographed along Back Bay Dr. between San Joaquin Hills Dr. and Big Canyon and on the westerly side of the Delhi Ditch.  (my comments).      The red berries of this species make nice snacks or trim for salads.  They resemble a tomato in taste.  Indians used the seeds of many native species of saltbush for flour.  The leaves and young shoots of the native species are often used as potherbs and are quite agreeable with meat.  (Clarke 211).      An introduced plant, A. semibaccata, was eaten fresh by the Cahuilla Indians living in the vicinity of Indio.  (Bean and Saubel 45).       Delfina Cuero, a Kumeyaay or Southern Diegueno Indian, made the following comments about Atriplex semibaccata in her autobiography:  Delfina stated that this was one of two kinds of this plant.  "Grind leaves and stems to use fresh as a poultice on ant bites; also leaves are boiled for tea for stomach ache."  (Shipek 85).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 505; Munz, Calif Flora 378; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 358.

Photo Ref:  Dec 2 83 # 34,35; April-May 85 # 21.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.  

First Found:  December 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 218

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 3/3/05.

                               December  Photo                                                          December  Photo