Atriplex kochiana
| Atriplex kochiana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Taxonomic record at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew[1] | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Atriplex |
| Species: | A. kochiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Atriplex kochiana Maiden, 1897[2] | |
 | |
| Occurrence data for A. kochiana from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Atriplex kochiana, commonly known as Koch's saltbush, is a native Australian desert shrub from the Amaranthaceae family.[1][2] The species, which is part of the Atriplex genus, is endemic to South Australia's arid landscapes, and only occurs in a small number of places in the Lake Torrens and Oodnadatta regions.[2][3] As such, it is considered 'very rare' in South Australia.[4]
Description
The species grows as either an annual or short-lived perennial shrub, with an erect rounded growth form up to 40 cm in height.[4]
The thin silvery-grey-green leaves are distinguished by the presence of a scaly sheen on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces.[4] The leaf base is cuneate with a very broadly obovate lamina.[4]
Both the male and female plants flower, with the male flowers taking on the form of either continuous or disjunct slender spikes, and the female flowers forming axillary clusters.[4]
The papery fruit is pale-brown in colour, and is either minutely stipitate or sessile.[4] The base of the fruits are united into a broadly turbinate and compressed tube, which then widens to form the valves.[4] Each fruit has numerous fan-shaped valves with prominent venations, with each valve ranging from 5-8mm in width and 2.5mm in height.[4] The valve form is compressed with an orbicular to ovate shape and a cordate base.[4]
Taxonomy
Atriplex kochiana is one of 61 native Atriplex species in Australia, which are all part of the Amaranthaceae family.[5][6] The species was first described in 1897 by John. H. Maiden.[5][3]
In his article, he described the plant as:
A dioecious, occasionally monoecious, erect perennial (or annual with a woody base?) about one to one and a-half feet high, with very angular branches; the whole plant grey with a scaly tomentum.[5]
Etymology
Atriplex originates from the word atriplexuma, the Latin name for plants in this genus.[6] Many Atriplex species are halophytes.[7]
The species epithet was chosen to honour Heinrich Ludwig Max Koch,[8] who had collected the sample in the Mt Lyndhurst area, and who Maiden described as a "very intelligent collector".[5] The suffix -iana in kochiana indicates that it is an eponym.
References
- 1 2 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. "Occurrence record for Atriplex kochiana". records.data.kew.org. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- 1 2 3 Atlas of Living Australia (2026). "Atriplex kochiana (Koch's Saltbush)". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
- 1 2 Read, John L.; Kilpatrick, Adam D. (2009). "Improved Conservation Status of Atriplex Kochiana Maiden". Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 133 (1): 172–177. doi:10.1080/03721426.2009.10887116. ISSN 0372-1426.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Seeds of South Australia. "Species Information - Atriplex kochiana". spapps.environment.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
- 1 2 3 4 Maiden, John H. (1896). "On a new Atriplex from South Australia". Transactions and Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of South Australia. 21. Archived from the original on 2024-12-22.
- 1 2 Atlas of Living Australia. "Atriplex". profiles.ala.org.au. Archived from the original on 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
- ↑ Sun, Yanlin; Netzel, Michael E.; Sivakumar, Dharini; Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2025). "Climate-smart Halophyte: The role of Atriplex in future food security". Trends in Food Science & Technology. 156 104869. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2025.104869.
- ↑ Jessop, J.P.; Toelken, H.R., eds. (2011). "History of Botany in South Australia (1800–1955)" (PDF). Flora of South Australia (4th ed.). Adelaide: State Herbarium of South Australia & South Australian Government Printing Division. pp. 24–25.