| Bladder saltbush | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Atriplex |
| Species: | A. vesicaria |
| Binomial name | |
| Atriplex vesicaria | |
 | |
| Occurrence data fromAVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Pachypharynx neglectaAellen | |
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Atriplex vesicaria, commonly known asbladder saltbush,[2] is a species of flowering plant of the familyAmaranthaceae and isendemic toarid and semi-arid inland regions of Australia. It is an upright or sprawling shrub with scaly leaves and separate male and female plants, the fruit often with a bladder-like appendage.
Atriplex vesicaria grows as an upright or sprawling,perennial shrub up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high. The leaves aresessile, elliptic to oblong or egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) long, 3–15 mm (0.12–0.59 in) wide and scaly. The edges of the leaves are entire, occasionally toothed, with the leaf tips pointed or blunt.[3][4][5]
Male and female flowers are usually borne on separate plants. Male plants usually bear flowers in clusters on simple or branchedpanicles or spikes 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long, the flowers with five similarperianth segments. Female flowers are borne in clusters of two to many in upper leaf axils and lack a perianth, theovary surrounded by twobracteoles. After flowering, the bracteoles swell to 3–14 mm (0.12–0.55 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) wide, and usually have a thin-walled, bladder-like appendage attached.[3][5][6][7][8]
Atriplex vesicaria was first formally described in 1870 byGeorge Bentham inFlora Australiensis from an unpublished manuscript byRobert Heward.[9][10] Thespecific epithet (vesicaria) means "bladder-like" or "inflated",[11] referring to the appendages on the fruiting bodies.[12] The name 'Atriplex' is from the Latinatriplexum, meaning orache, a plant used as a spinach substitute.[13]
In 1938,Paul Aellen describedPachypharynx neglecta inBotanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie,[14] but the name is considered asynonym by theAustralian Plant Census.[1]
In 1984,Geoffrey A. Parr-Smith described eight subspecies ofA. vesicaria in theFlora of Australia and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:
Atriplex vesicaria is a widespread shrub that occurs acrosschenopodshrublands in arid and semi-arid inland areas across southern Australia,[3] inWestern Australia,Northern Territory,South Australia,Queensland,New South Wales, andVictoria. This species grows on alluvial plains, coastal dunes, salt pans, salt lakes, sandy plains and limestone ridges.[2]
In New South Wales,A. vesicaria occurs over clay soils on the Riverine Plains in the west, stony soils in the north west, and on texture-contrast soils in the south west.[23] In Victoria,A. vesicaria occurs in the Lowan Mallee,Murray Mallee, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Murray Scroll Belt, and the Robinvale Plains.[24]
Bladder saltbush is relatively long-lived, with a 25-30 year lifespan.[25] Over large areas, it can occur as the sole shrub species or as a co-dominant shrub with otherperennial shrubs.[26]
Althoughhermaphroditic variations with bisexual flowers have been recorded, theA. vesicaria is predominantlydioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants.[25] Male flowers appear continuously or interrupted in clusters[27] on thin, simple or branched terminal spikes orpanicles. Female flowers are axillary, occurring solitary or in clusters of two or more in the leaf axils.[28] The fruiting body is 6-15 millimetres in diameter, green to cream coloured, mostly orbicular and membranous, with fine veins networked throughout and concealed by inflated spongyappendages,[28] with seeds held betweenbracts.
This species ishalophytic, able to withstandsalty soils, and is adapted to dry environments.[29] In dry conditions, this plant will shed its leaves to retain moisture.
In favourable conditions, particularly after rainfall, recruitment occurs opportunistically.[26] Flowering and seed set-in can occur several times a year. Male and female flowers are carried on separate plants: however, some plants are bisexual.A vesicaria can alter its sexual state from one season to the next, with sexual expression occurring in response to weather, light intensity, temperature,soil fertility and moisture, disease, age, injury andgrazing intensity, andpopulation density.[25]
Atriplex vesicaria is not currently listed under theIUCN, however it is listed as "not threatened" by the Western AustraliaDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[2] A paper published in 1989 suggested that recovery of the species from saltbush dieback may be attributed to mismanagement of some stands.[30]
Indigenous Australians have traditionally used the seeds and leaves of Saltbush, typically the species,Atriplex nummularia, commonly known as Old Man, Bluegreen or Giant Saltbush. The seeds are ground and used indamper, and the leaves are sometimes eaten fresh or added to meat.[31]
Atriplex vesicaria is of agricultural importance for livestock grazing, predominantly sheep grazing; however, the female plants are preferentially grazed[32] over male plants that are not as palatable due to a chemical deterrent.[28] Studies have shown thatsex ratios are altered under the cumulative effects of preferential grazing.[33] The species is sensitive to grazing pressures and can experience heavy defoliation in periods of low rainfall when other perennial shrubs are unavailable.[23] Known for itsdrought and saline tolerance, the presence of this species is also considered a reliable indicator of pasture conditions.[34]
Saltbush is currently considered somewhat of a delicacy and used in modern cuisine. It is known for its salty, earthy, herbal flavour and can be added to meat and vegetable dishes or used as a salt substitute.
Survival of saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) seedlings in heavily grazed experimental plots