Atriplex rosea L.

Monoecious, erect, bushy, ± grey or whitish farinose annual to c. 1 m tall. Stems terete or nearly so, pale yellowish, stout, woody towards base. Petioles to c. 1 cm long; lamina 2.5 × 1.5–4 cm, rhombic-triangular or rhombic-ovate, to lanceolate towards stem apices, deeply and irregularly dentate; base narrow- to broad-cuneate; apex acute; infl. lvs similar but smaller. Fls in axillary glomerules and short terminal spikes; spikes leafy almost to the apex. ♂ fls maturing well before ♀; perianth c. 1 mm long, pale with indistinct margin; segments incurved. ♀ fls: bracteoles c. 1.5 mm long at anthesis, rhombic-triangular or rhombic, united below middle, dentate (teeth 1 or few on each side), strongly accrescent. Fruiting bracteoles 3–4 × 3–4 mm, conspicuously veined, indurate towards base, with several tubercle appendages around middle. Fr. 1.5–2 mm diam., circular or nearly so, laterally flattened; pericarp easily removed. Testa brown.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Mar.