Atriplex patula L.

Much-branched, prostrate or widespreading to suberect, farinose, monoecious annual, often with erect main stem and stiff horizontal branches, sometimes mat-forming. Stems ribbed, ± slender. Petiole to 1.5 cm long; lamina 2-7 × 0.3-4 cm, mostly linear-lanceolate, lanceolate or elliptic, sometimes ovate and then often hastate, rarely lobed on 1 side only, otherwise lamina nearly always entire, green or grey-green; base narrow-cuneate to cuneate; apex acute to obtuse. Infl. lvs (even down to base of branches) smaller, narrower, with shorter petioles. Infl. long, spicate; fls in glomerules; upper glomerules sometimes subtended by small bract-like lvs. ♂ fls: perianth c. 0.5 mm long; segments green with hyaline margin. ♀ fls: bracteoles 1-1.5 mm long at anthesis, sessile, triangular or rhombic-triangular, often triangular-hastate, otherwise entire or with a few marginal or sometimes central dorsal teeth, sometimes with appendages. Fruiting bracteoles (1.5)-2.5-8.5-(11) × 1-5-(6) mm, sometimes unequal, thin, green or grey-farinose, the lower part united; apex acute or acuminate. Fr. enclosed or apex exserted from bracteoles, 1.4-2.2-(3.2) mm diam., circular, laterally flattened; pericarp easily removed. Testa shining black, almost smooth.

Waste and arable land near the coast, it is usually found on clays and heavy ground. Roadsides, waste ground, riverbanks, and weed-infested places generally.

The young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used in soups. The seeds can be ground and cooked and eaten.

Plants can be grown by seed or cuttings.