Atriplex hortensis

Mountain spinach, Garden orache, Sea Purslane

AmaranthaceaeLeavesSeeds/NutsScore: 1/100Potential hazards — see below

fodderfoodornamental

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds, Vegetable

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Edible uses & rating: Leaves (raw/cooked), tender shoots, seeds (grain adjunct). Edibility rating: 4/5. Taste & processing notes: Leaves spinach-like, less oxalic “bite” than many wild Atriplex; excellent potherb, good raw if tender. Seed can be used like quinoa adjunct after rinsing/boiling if bitter. Season/harvest: Spring–early summer; can bolt in heat; multiple cut-and-come-again harvests [2-3]. Leaves - raw or cooked. Used like spinach, they have a bland flavour and are traditionally mixed with sorrel leaves in order to modify the acidity of the latter. Another report says that the flavour is stronger than spinach. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a meal and used in soups etc or be mixed with flour when making bread. The seed is said to be a good source of vitamin A. The seed is also said to contain some saponins. See the notes above on toxicity. The seed is small and fiddly to harvest and use.

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. The seed contains saponins. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching the seed or flour in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate or Mediterranean plant. It is best in nitrogen rich soils. It can tolerate salty conditions. It suits hardiness zones 6-11. Tasmania Herbarium.

Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iraq, Italy, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Netherlands, North America, Northeastern India, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, SE Asia, Serbia, Siberia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Yugoslavia,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Albania, Armenia, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Belarus, Belize, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Ecuador, Estonia, Egypt, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Grenada, Georgia, French Guiana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Croatia, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Malta, Maldives, Mexico, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Suriname, El Salvador, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

An annual herb. It grows up to 2 m tall and spreads 40-50 cm wide. The leaves are triangular. They are greyish green. They can be red or yellow. They are 10-15 cm long and have small teeth along the edge. The flowers are in clusters at the ends of the plant. These can be 20 cm long. They are green or red but insignificant. The fruit are very small brown plate like seeds. There are several named cultivated varieties.

Nutrition Score: 1/100

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Leaves	85	20	3.2	—	—	—	—	—
Seeds	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

How to Grow

Orach is a very easily grown plant, doing equally well in a wide variety of well-drained soils, though rich, moisture-retentive soils give the quick growth that is necessary for the production of tender leaves. Plants require a position in full sun and are tolerant of saline and very alkaline soils. They thrive in any temperate climate, and are drought resistant. Orach is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 30 to 140cm, an average annual temperature in the range of 6 to 24°C, and a pH of 5.0 to 8.2. Orach was formerly cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties. It can be grown as a warm weather substitute for spinach. Some forms of this species have bronze or deep red leaves and are occasionally grown as ornamental plants, their leaves taste the same as the green-leafed forms. Plants are fast-growing and usually self-sow quite freely if the surrounding soil is disturbed by hoeing etc. They tolerate hot weather well, but soon go to seed so successive sowings at 4 weekly intervals are required during the growing season if a continuous supply of leaves is required. Leaves can be harvested 40 - 60 days after sowing the seed. This species is a poor companion plant for potatoes, inhibiting their growth when growing close to them. Saltbush can be harvested for forage throughout the growing season, typically in late spring to early autumn. Saltbush generally flowers in late summer to early autumn, depending on the specific species and growing conditions. Hardiness: Grown as an annual; tolerates light frosts. Size & habit: 60–150 cm; green, red or purple strains. Habitat & range: Naturalized around farms/gardens; widely cultivated. Weed potential: Moderate self-seeder, easy to manage.

Propagation: Seed - sow March to August in situ, only just covering the seed. Germination is usually good and rapid. Sow cool weather; succession every 2–3 weeks; pinch to delay bolting.

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic Diuretic Emetic Purgative The leaves are diuretic, emetic and purgative. They are also said to be a stimulant to the metabolism and an infusion is used as a spring tonic and a remedy for tiredness and nervous exhaustion. They have been suggested as a folk remedy for treating plethora and lung ailments. The leaves are said to be efficacious when used externally in the treatment of gout. The seeds, mixed with wine, are said to cure yellow jaundice. They also excite vomiting. The fruits are purgative and emetic. Liniments and emollients prepared from the whole plant, like the juice of the plant, are said to be folk remedies for indurations and tumours, especially of the throat.

Other Uses

Biomass Companion Dye Agroforestry uses: Saltbush is often used for erosion control, as a windbreak, and for soil stabilization. Its high salt tolerance makes it suitable for saline soils, and it can be used as forage for livestock. A blue dye is obtained from the seed. The plant is a potential source of biomass. Yields of 14 tonnes per hectare have been achieved near Landskrona and Lund, Sweden. Higher yields might be expected farther south. If the leaf-protein were extracted, this should leave more than 13 tonnes biomass as by-product, for potential conversion to liquid or gaseous fuels. 1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: No – Saltbush is wind-pollinated, so it doesn’t produce nectar-rich flowers to attract pollinators. 2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): Yes – Saltbush provides food for wildlife through its seeds and foliage. It is an important food source for herbivores like birds and small mammals. The dense, bushy form also provides shelter and cover for nesting birds and other small animals. 3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): Yes – The dense, shrubby growth of Saltbush offers good ground cover for invertebrates, and the fallen leaves can serve as shelter and overwintering sites for beneficial insects. 4. Pest Confuser (Smell): No – Saltbush does not have a strong aromatic smell that repels pests, so it is not typically used as a pest confuser. Special Uses Food Forest

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Atriplex hortensis, known as garden orache, red orache or simply orache (; also spelled orach), mountain spinach, French spinach, or arrach, is a species of plant in the amaranth family used as a leaf vegetable that was common before spinach; it is still grown as a warm-weather alternative to spinach. For many years, it was classified in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), but it has now been absorbed into the Amaranthaceae. It is Eurasian, native to Asia and Europe, and widely naturalized in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Production

It is fast growing. Leaves are harvested after 30-35 days.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Notes

There are about 100-300 Atriplex species. They have also been put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Names & Synonyms

Armuelle, Butter leaves, Chakotte soppu, Chakwat, Chandanbatva, Fat hen, French spinach, Garden orache, Juri, Korake, Labada, Labat, Lebeda, Loboda, Natina, Paharipalang, Pahari palak, Pepeljuga, Pezik otu, Suraka, Surake, Thoya kura, Thoyah-keeray, Tuinmelde, Yu qian bo cai

Atriplex acuminata M. Bieb.Atriplex atrosanguinea VossAtriplex heterantha WightAtriplex hortensis var. rubra L.and others

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