Shrubby Orache

Shrubby Orache Plants (Atriplex leucoclada, Chenopodiaceae) are small perennial halophytes of the Chenopodiaceae species. These plants are cultivated in Riyadh City. Ten of its subspecies grow in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, seven of which are endemic thereto.

Shrubby orache plants grow in North Africa and the Middle East. They are endemic to the Mediterranean region. Some of its subspecies can withstand high concentrations of sodium chloride.

The plant grows in various environments. Its height reaches about 0.5 m. Its evergreen and triangular leaves are featured in different forms and sizes depending on spatial and temporal circumstances. The plant bears a vertical grey stem featuring hook-shaped green flowers that bloom from the beginning to the end of April. The plant bears box-shaped 0.6 cm fruits.

The shrubby orache plant is cultivated in public open spaces, parking lots, pedestrian areas, and rock gardens. It is used for planting parks and streets, covering soil, and fencing. It is often cultivated in bulk.

It can also be used within the framework of environmental restoration programs, where it seeks to enhance soil quality and reverse desertification.

The shrubby orache plant grows in highly saline coastal and inland marshes and swamps. It occasionally grows in brown earth soils. Its ability to store carbon dioxide enables its cultivation in desert areas. It can withstand desert conditions and drought. It is sensitive to dusty environments. It can propagate from seeds. It has a frost tolerance down to minus six degrees Celsius. It can withstand high salinity levels estimated at five thousand parts per million and requires minor irrigation and care.

There are seven species of the shrubby orache in the Kingdom: A. Atriplex coriacea, A. halimus, A. glauca, A. farinosa, A. dimorphostegia, A. leucoclada, and A. tatarica. Three other species were introduced from abroad: A. canescens, A. semibaccata and A. suberecta).

The shrubby orache is widespread in deserts and valleys. It is found in the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve.

The shrubby orache contains important nutrients, making it a good food alternative, fodder supplement, and a good and high fodder value for wild animals in protected areas. In fact, in addition to its pleasant taste, it consists of protein, carbohydrates, and mineral elements.

The Nature Reserve has achieved a vegetation cover expansion. It features around 550 species, including herbaceous species and shrubs representing the largest proportion of plant species. This achievement is the result of efforts deployed by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natual Reserve Development Authority to preserve the environment, enhance the vegetation cover, and foster biodiversity. In this respect, around 2,400,000 seedlings of protected plants were cultivated in the reserve in addition to four t of seeds.