Atriplex hortensis
| Atriplex hortensis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 6' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Atriplex hortensis (common name: orach)
Propagation: Seed - sow March to August in situ, only just covering the seed[1]. Germination is usually good and rapid[K].
Cultivation: Orach is a very easily grown plant, doing equally well in a wide variety of well-drained soils, though rich, moisture-retentive soils give the quick growth that is necessary for the production of tender leaves[2][3][4][5]. Plants require a position in full sun and are tolerant of saline and very alkaline soils[4]. They thrive in any temperate climate, and are drought resistant[5]. Orach is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 30 to 140cm, an average annual temperature in the range of 6 to 24°C, and a pH of 5.0 to 8.2[5].
Orach was formerly cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties[6]. It can be grown as a warm weather substitute for spinach[6]. Some forms of this species have bronze or deep red leaves and are occasionally grown as ornamental plants, their leaves taste the same as the green-leafed forms[K].
Plants are fast-growing[7] and usually self-sow quite freely if the surrounding soil is disturbed by hoeing etc[K]. They tolerate hot weather well, but soon go to seed so successive sowings at 4 weekly intervals are required during the growing season if a continuous supply of leaves is required[5]. Leaves can be harvested 40 - 60 days after sowing the seed[5].
This species is a poor companion plant for potatoes, inhibiting their growth when growing close to them[8].
Range: Europe. An occasional garden escape in Britain[9].
Habitat: Arable land, waste and disturbed ground, shingle etc[10].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[11][12][13][2]. Used like spinach[10], they have a bland flavour and are traditionally mixed with sorrel leaves in order to modify the acidity of the latter[6]. Another report says that the flavour is stronger than spinach[14].
Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a meal and used in soups etc or be mixed with flour when making bread[15][6]. The seed is said to be a good source of vitamin A[16]. The seed is also said to contain some saponins[16]. See the notes above on toxicity. The seed is small and fiddly to harvest and use.
Medicinal: The leaves are diuretic, emetic and purgative[17][5]. They are also said to be a stimulant to the metabolism and an infusion is used as a spring tonic and a remedy for tiredness and nervous exhaustion[10]. They have been suggested as a folk remedy for treating plethora and lung ailments[5]. The leaves are said to be efficacious when used externally in the treatment of gout[18].
The seeds, mixed with wine, are said to cure yellow jaundice. They also excite vomiting[5].
The fruits are purgative and emetic[5].
Liniments and emollients prepared from the whole plant, like the juice of the plant, are said to be folk remedies for indurations and tumours, especially of the throat[5].
Usage: A blue dye is obtained from the seed[19][17].
The plant is a potential source of biomass. Yields of 14 tonnes per hectare have been achieved in the vicinity of Landskrona and Lund, Sweden. Higher yields might be expected farther south. If the leaf-protein were extracted, this should leave more than 13 tonnes biomass as by-product, for potential conversion to liquid or gaseous fuels[5].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Early Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Known Hazards: No member of this genus contains any toxins, all have more or less edible leaves. However, if grown with artificial fertilizers, they may concentrate harmful amounts of nitrates in their leaves.
The seed contains saponins[16]. Although poisonous, saponi
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References
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
- ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Duke, James. Handbook of Energy Crops. 1983.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Simons, Arthur. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin, 1977.
- ↑ Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Vegetables. Macmillan Reference Books, 1995.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.