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Information about Chenopod Shrublands - Saltbush in Outback Australia |
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Chenopod shrublands cover 8% of the arid zone. Chenopods are salt tolerant xenomorphic (plant characteristics determined by ability to resist drought) shrubs, sub-shrubs or forbs. The leaves are frequently covered with scales or soft hairs; some are leafless with fleshy jointed stems. Many have pores, which excrete salt.The gibber of Sturt's Stony Desert is chenopod shrubland, as are the tablelands around Woomera. Chenopods grow around salt lakes, claypans and interdunal corridors, anywhere where there is salinity. Saltbush (Atriplex sp.) is an extremely important plant as it provides perennial shrublands with a large distribution. Amongst the Atriplex is Atriplex nummularia -Old Man Saltbush which reaches a height of 2 metres, and spreads 4-5 metres across. Bassia make up many of the burrs that can cause great discomfort in your swag, or when stepped upon with bare feet, especially Bassia paradoxa. Enchylaena tomentosa or Ruby Saltbush has delicious berries, however the leaves have dangerously high levels of oxalate. The Bluebushes or Maireana have some beautiful hop like flowers, Maireana sedifolia is known to grow for over 300 years. Samphire (Arthrocnemum) is a delicious salad vegetable, best blanched for 30 seconds in boiling water. Back to Land System introduction. |
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Ouch! - Various chenopod seeds - burs or bindii. |
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Chenopod Shrubland provided the food required by the endangered Stick Nest Rat. Chenopod shrubland also provides grazing country for the Kangaroo, who graze the grasses and herbs growing between the chenopod after rain, and fall back on the chenopod at other times. Cattle and sheep do extremely well on chenopods, the meat from sheep develops a unique flavour when grazed on it. Chenopod shrublands are very simple eco systems. They appear barren, like the plains north of Port Augusta, or the ironstone gibbers of Sturt Stony Desert and very little research has been done into their biodivesity, other than their stock fodder qualities.
Arid zone Chenopods have fascinating seed dispersal techniques. Occuring in depauperate soils and harsh climates the plants must ensure their seed is dispersed both for survival of the species, but also so as not to crowd the plant that produced the seed. Sclerolaena use animal dispersal - spiny fruits that stick in animal pads. Interestingly none of the chenopods have hooks that attach to animal fur. Maireana have light fruit with papery wings that blows about in the wind. Salsola are rolly polly bushes that also use the wind to disperse by rolling along the ground giving them the common name of tumbleweed. Atriplex have wacky wings. Maireana rhagodia and Enchylaena have fleshy fruits that attract birds that eat it, passing the seed.
Enchylaena tomentosa - bush tomato
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