Saloop, Berry Saltbush
Einadia hastata

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 2 m tall. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are ribbed. The leaves are simple and alternate or opposite. They are 0.8-4 cm long by 0.6-2.3 cm wide. New growth has some hairs. The leaf stalks are 0.4-1.2 cm long. The flowers are on branched stalks at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The flowers are 0.5-1 mm across and do not have petals. There are 5 red sepals. The fruit is a red berry. It is 2-3 mm across. There is one black seed.

It has also been put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

Geelong Botanical Gardens. It grows in monsoon forest and vine forest. In tropical Australia it grows from sea level to 850 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten after boiling to remove extra salt.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

A spacing of 30 cm by 50 cm is suitable.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Rhagodia hastata R. Br.;