Saltbush, Tumbling saltweed
Atriplex rosea

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 30-50 cm tall. They plant is grey and scaly. The leaves are oval and 2-4 cm long by 5-12 mm wide. The flowers are in spikes at the end of shoots and also along the sides. The seeds are round but flattened. They have bracts around them.

They have also been put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows between 500-1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Austria, Balkans, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Chile, China, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, North Africa, North America, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South America, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The young shoots and leaves are cooked and eaten. They are also used as flavouring in relishes and chutneys. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat.

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Cachiyuyo, Rosenmelde, Rozova loboda

Synonyms

Atriplex alba Scop. and others