Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Atriplex L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Atriplex buchananii (Kirk) Cheeseman, Man. New Zealand Fl. 584 (1906)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Chenopodium buchananii Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 22: 447 (1889)
  • = Atriplex buchananii var. tenuicaulis Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 47: 54 (1915)
 Description

Prostrate to procumbent, much-branched, densely white or greyish farinose, short-lived perennial herb, sometimes mat-forming. Stems slightly woody at base, terete, slender but wiry. Petioles 0–1.5–(3) mm long; lamina 1–10 × 0.8–6 mm, orbicular to broad-elliptic, broad-ovate or obovate, entire; base subcordate to rounded or broad-cuneate. Fls axillary, solitary or in glomerules of 2–10. ♂ fls: mostly near branch apices; perianth 1–1.5 mm long, whitish or greyish; segments c. 1/2 length of tube. ♀ fls: c. 1 mm long. Fruiting bracteoles rhombic-triangular, dentate. Fr. c. 1 mm diam., circular or nearly so; pericarp easily removed. Testa brownish green.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.

 Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1906: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Government Printer, Wellington.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Nationally Vulnerable]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Nationally Vulnerable]
Kirk, T. 1889: On the Occurrence of a Variety of Mitrasacme montana, Hook.f., in New Zealand. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 22: 445–447.
Petrie, D. 1915: Descriptions of New Native Phanerogams, with other Short Notices. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 47: 48–59.