Australian spinach

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Australian spinach
• nettle-leaved goosefoot
• sowbane
• wall goosefoot
• Australian-spinach
• nettle-leaf fat-hen
• nettle-leaf goosefoot
• saltgreen
• Chuana Soap
• Rounded-Leaved Fat-Hen
• Wheat Bush
• nettle leaved fat hen
• nettleleaf goosefoot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhagodia billardierei var. congesta
• Rhagodia congesta
• Anserina muralis
• Atriplex muralis
• Chenopodium murale var. biforme
• Rhagodia baccata var. congesta
• Chenopodium murale var. prostratum
• Chenopodium murale var. microphyllum
• Chenopodium murale var. paucidentatum
• Chenopodium biforme
• Chenopodium carthagenense
• Chenopodium carthagenense
• Chenopodium congestum
• Chenopodium flavum
• Chenopodium guineense
• Chenopodium ilicifolium
• Chenopodium laterale
• Chenopodium longidjawense
• Chenopodium maroccanum
• Chenopodium murale var. latifolium
• Chenopodium murale
• Vulvaria trachisperma
• Chenopodium murale var. albescens
• Chenopodium murale var. carthagenense
• Chenopodium murale var. spissidentatum
• Chenopodium murale var. angustatum
• Chenopodium murale var. acutidentatum
• Chenopodium murale f. albescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Chenopodium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Chenopodium murale, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species is present throughout the landscape of Great Britain. Its range also extends to the island of Ireland. Finally, the plant is documented to inhabit the territory of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chenopodium murale is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide altitudinal distribution. It can be found across an expansive elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2,900 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting a variety of distinct biomes and landscape types, including the Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), and Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). Furthermore, it frequently colonizes áreas antrópicas (anthropic areas), thriving in human-disturbed environments and agricultural landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Chenopodium murale are characterized by a specific chromosomal arrangement that plays a fundamental role in its biological classification and reproductive stability. The species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 18, a trait that serves as a key cytogenetic marker for distinguishing it from closely related taxa within the Amaranthaceae family. This consistent chromosomal count influences the plant's genomic architecture, affecting its capacity for genetic recombination, adaptation to diverse environmental stressors, and overall evolutionary fitness. The stability of this 18-chromosome configuration is essential to its developmental processes and the inheritance patterns of its various physiological and medicinal properties.

Chromosome number :

18

Life history

The life history of Chenopodium murale is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the species survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant in the soil until conditions become favorable for rapid growth. Throughout its active phase, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it reaches the end of its seasonal cycle. This life strategy allows it to exploit disturbed habitats efficiently, utilizing its therophytic life form to quickly establish itself, mature, and disperse a large volume of seeds before the onset of senescence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Chenopodium murale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. As a terrestrial plant, it exists as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is categorized as a self-supporting structure rather than a liana or vine. In terms of stature, its height is variable, with a minimum measurement of 0.1 m, a mean height of approximately 0.619 m, and a maximum potential height of reaching up to 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.619 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chenopodium murale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent leaf structure and is classified as non-carnivorous, relying on standard nutrient uptake rather than insectivory. It lacks the specialized symbiotic mechanisms required for nitrogen fixation, obtaining essential nitrogen directly from the soil. The foliage is morphologically defined by an ovate leaf form, with leaf dimensions varying significantly depending on environmental conditions; specifically, leaf length ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 6 cm, with a mean width typically recorded at approximately 4 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chenopodium murale is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, which are typically green in color and arranged in a cyme inflorescence. The flowering period begins in July and extends through October. The plant relies on an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing wind for the transfer of pollen. While self-fertilization is noted as absent, the plant produces a vast quantity of seeds, with each fruit yielding more than 1000 seeds. The resulting fruit is a dry, indehiscent achene. The seeds themselves are quite small and uniform, with a mean length of 1.3 mm (ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 mm) and a mean width of 1.3 mm (ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 mm), resulting in a consistent seed volume of approximately 0.53 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds range from a minimum of 0.0005 g to a maximum of 0.00077 g, with a mean mass of 0.000609111 g. Dispersal is achieved through unspecialized means, though it also exhibits anthropochorous patterns, indicating that human activity plays a role in the movement of its seeds. No asexual reproduction methods are present in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence :

cyme

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1.5 mm

Seed length mean:

1.3 mm

Seed length min:

1.2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00077 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000609111 g

Seed mass min:

5e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.53 mm³

Seed width max:

1.5 mm

Seed width mean:

1.3 mm

Seed width min:

1.2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chenopodiastrum murale has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Chenopodiastrum murale has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aglycone, Ash, CARVACROL, Coumaric Acid, Flavonoids.

Aglycone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ash

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CARVACROL

1. PloS one

Coumaric Acid

1. PloS one

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hemoglobin

1. Toxicology reports

Vitamin A

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

cysteine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ferulic acid

1. PloS one

glycine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Chenopodiastrum murale has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Allelopathic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant.

Allelopathic

1. PloS one

Antibacterial

1. Food science & nutrition

Antifungal

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Food science & nutrition

Preparations

Chenopodiastrum murale has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, fresh leaves' juice, methanol extract, plant extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fresh leaves' juice

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extract

1. Phytochemistry

Plant extracts

1. Food science & nutrition