Old-man Saltbush

Old-man Saltbush photos

Family: Saltbush (Chenopodiaceae)

Scientific Name:

Atriplex nummularia

Young fruit of Old-man Saltbush
Photo: A J Brown

Other Common
Names:

Giant Saltbush, Cabbage Saltbush

Status:

Native to inland Australia.

Plant Description:

Large grey shrub to 2 m tall and to 4-5 m wide, with brittle woody branches. Leaves scaly, shortly stalked, almost circular to broadly ovate, 10-25 mm long.

Plants dioecious with flowers in panicles at the ends of branches. Fruiting body stalkless, nearly round to more or less fan-shaped and 5-8 mm long.

Habitat:

Naturally grows on heavy textured soils on flats and depressions.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Mallee, Loddon Murray	S0, S1, S2	W0, W1
Wimmera, Central & Northern	S0, S1, S2	W0, W1

*may cause leaf damage over summer months

Comments:

Confined to the far north-west in the natural state but occasionally grown in plantations elsewhere as fodder for livestock. Has moderate salt tolerance but does not survive extended waterlogging. Good drought resistance due to a deep root system and can withstand heavy grazing, once well established. Variable palatability. Leaves contain up to 28% salt. Has been used in the past as hedges, windbreaks and firebreaks.

Old-man Saltbush Photos

Female flowers in leaf axils of Old-man Saltbush Photo: A J Brown	Old mature fruit of Old-man Saltbush Photo: A J Brown
Leaves of Old-man Saltbush Photo: A J Brown	Male flowers of Old-man Saltbush Photo: A J Brown
Old-man Saltbush stand Photo: A J Brown	Male flower spike of Old-man Saltbush Photo: A J Brown

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