Chenopodium nutans explained

Chenopodium nutans (Syn Einadia nutans, Rhagodia nutans), known by its common name of climbing saltbush or nodding saltbush, is a climbing groundcover native to Australia.

Plants form a blanket on the surface, climbing over logs and up trees to a height of around 1 metre. Each plant grows to around one metre in diameter. The small leaves are semi-succulent, and have a distinctive arrowhead shape. They grow along long, vine-like branches spreading out form the centre of the plant. Both the leaves and the branches are of a light green colour.[1]

Flowers are inconspicuous green balls, which form on top of terminal spikes during summer. These transform into very conspicuous, tiny, bright-red berries during early autumn.

Human uses

The plant was boiled along with other species of saltbush for use as a greens substitute by early European settlers in the Adelaide region.[2] The plant is easily propagated, making it a particularly attractive and useful plant for revegetation projects. It has recently been enjoying increasing popularity as a garden plant, for its low maintenance, low water usage properties.[3]

References

  1. Web site: Plants of the Adelaide plains and hills. Library of South Australia. 21 March 2011.
  2. Web site: The Native Plants of Adelaide. Department for Environment and Heritage. 21 March 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110315113933/http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm. 15 March 2011.
  3. Web site: LOCAL PLANTS CONSERVED IN A MUNICIPAL GARDEN. Burnside City Council. 18 April 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110423012500/http://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Local_Plants_Conserved_in_a_Municipal_Garden.pdf. 23 April 2011.

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