Amaranths, Goosefoots & Allies

Patellifolia patellaris Atriplex semilunaris Nettle-leaved Goosefoot Berry Saltbush



Amaranth Family - Amaranthaceae

Shrubby Orache      Atriplex halimus

Native in the Canary Islands and eastward through the Mediterranean Region to the Middle and the Horn of Africa. Differs from the other oraches in being a woody, perennial shrub.

Shrubby Orache Shrubby Orache Shrubby Orache Shrubby Orache
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Leaves
Shrubby Orache Shrubby Orache Shrubby Orache
Habit
Habit
Fruiting spike


Glaucous Orache      Atriplex glauca

Native to the Canary Islands eastwards through North Africa to the Middle East and in the Iberian Peninsula. Common as a coloniser of roadsides and frequent in sandy places. Very variable in leaf shape; the native plant is subspecies ifniensis but roadside plants may be introduced from Iberia (and thus subspecies glauca).

Glaucous Orache Glaucous Orache Glaucous Orache Glaucous Orache
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Flowers
Glaucous Orache Glaucous Orache Glaucous Orache Glaucous Orache
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves


Berry Saltbush      Atriplex semibaccata

Introduced from Australia to many warmer parts of the world. Quite common in Fuerteventura on roadsides and rough ground.

Berry Saltbush Berry Saltbush Berry Saltbush Berry Saltbush
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Flowers
Berry Saltbush Berry Saltbush Berry Saltbush Berry Saltbush
Leaf
Early fruit
Fruits
Fruits


     Atriplex semilunaris

Introduced to the Canary Islands from Western Australia. Common in Fuerteventura on roadsides and rough ground.

Atriplex semilunaris Atriplex semilunaris Atriplex semilunaris Atriplex semilunaris
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Leaves
Atriplex semilunaris Atriplex semilunaris Atriplex semilunaris Atriplex semilunaris
Leaves
Leaf
Seed capsules
Seed capsules


     Atriplex suberecta

Introduced to the Canary Islands from southern Australia. Frequent in Fuerteventura on roadsides and rough ground with other oraches.

Atriplex suberecta Atriplex suberecta Atriplex suberecta Atriplex suberecta
Habit
Leaves
Leaves
Leaf
Atriplex suberecta Atriplex suberecta Atriplex suberecta Atriplex suberecta
Leaf
Seed capsules
Seed capsules
Seed capsules


Nettle-leaved Goosefoot      Chenopodiastrum murale

Native in the Canary Islands and throughout most of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and India. Typically a plant of field margins and gardens where the soil is cultivated.

Nettle-leaved Goosefoot Nettle-leaved Goosefoot Nettle-leaved Goosefoot Nettle-leaved Goosefoot
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Flowers
Nettle-leaved Goosefoot Nettle-leaved Goosefoot
Leaf
Leaf


     Patellifolia procumbens

Endemic to Macaronesia from Madeira to the Cape Verde islands. Occurs on all of the main Canary Islands. Three species of Patellifolia were once considered to occur in the Canary Islands but, more recently, they have all been lumped together as merely forms of this species, in which case, the range would extend through the Mediterranean to north-east Africa.

Patellifolia procumbens Patellifolia procumbens Patellifolia procumbens Patellifolia procumbens
Habit
Flowers
Leaves
Leaves
Patellifolia procumbens Patellifolia procumbens Patellifolia procumbens
Leaf
Leaf
Stem


     Patellifolia patellaris

Native to the Canary Islands and locally through the Mediterranean to north-east Africa. Now generally considered to be merely a form of Patellifolia procumbens

Patellifolia patellaris Patellifolia patellaris Patellifolia patellaris Patellifolia patellaris
Habit
Habit
Flowers
Flowers
Patellifolia patellaris Patellifolia patellaris Patellifolia patellaris Patellifolia patellaris
Leaves
Leaves
Leaf
Leaf


Slender Amaranth      Amaranthus viridis

Introduced from Tropical South and Central America to many warmer parts of the world. Frequent in Fuerteventura on roadsides and rough ground.

Slender Amaranth Slender Amaranth Slender Amaranth Slender Amaranth
Habit
Flower spike
Flower spike
Fruiting spike
Slender Amaranth Slender Amaranth Slender Amaranth Slender Amaranth
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leaf