Rhagodia candolleana

Taxobox
name = Seaberry Saltbush


image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
unranked_ordo = Core eudicots
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Amaranthaceae
subfamilia = Chenopodioideae
genus = "Rhagodia"
species = "R. candolleana"
binomial = "Rhagodia candolleana"
binomial_authority = Moq.
synonyms =

"Rhagodia candolleana" (Seaberry Saltbush) is a shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, native to Australia.

Description

This species forms a dense shrub up to 2 metres in heightcite book|author=Costermans, L.| title=Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia |publisher=Rigby|location=Australia | year=1981 | id=ISBN 072701403x ]

It shiny green leaves are thick and almost succulent, with a paler underside. These are 1 to 3 cm long and 4-12mm wide with the widest part of the leaf towards the base.

The flowers are small and pale and arranged in panicles, appearing between December and April (early summer to mid autumn) in the species native range. These are followed by flattened dark-red fruits which are up to 4 mm in diameter.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1840 in "Chenopodearum Monographica Enumeratio" by Alfred Moquin-Tandon. cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=RHAGODIA+CANDOLLEANA|title= "Rhagodia candolleana"|accessdate=2008-03-27|work= Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database|publisher = Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra]

The species name "Rhagodia baccata" has sometimes been misapplied to this species.

Two subspecies are currently recognised:
*"R. candolleana" subsp. "argentea" Paul G.Wilson - has a silvery appearance
*"R. candolleana" Moq. subsp. "candolleana"

Distribution

The species occurs in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.cite web |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Rhagodia~candolleana|title="Rhagodia candolleana" Moq. |accessdate=2008-03-27 |author=Jacobs, S.W.L.|work= PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia ] "R. candolleana" Moq. subsp. "candolleana" is a coastal plant, found on cliffs and dunes, often scrambling among other shrubs. The subspecies "R. candolleana" subsp. "argentea" occurs near inland salt lakes.cite web | url =http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/texhtml.cgi?form=speciesfacts&family=Chenopodiaceae&genus=Rhagodia&species=candolleana&iname=argentea| title ="Rhagodia candolleana" Moq. ssp. "argentea" Paul G.Wilson | work = Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet | publisher = State Herbarium of South Australia ]

Uses

The leaves can be cooked and eaten.cite book|author=Low, T.| title=Wild Food Plants Of Australia| publisher=Angus & Robertson|location= Australia | year=1991 | id=ISBN 0207169306] Aborigines are reported to have consumed the berries, despite their bitterness..

References