Paul Sterry - British Wild Flowers - A photographic guide to every common species

Red Goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHTto 60cm

Variable upright annual, of manure-enriched soils. Stems often turn red in old plants. FLOWERSSmall, numerous, in upright, leafy spikes. FRUITSRounded, enclosed by 2–4 sepals (July–Oct). LEAVES Shiny, diamond-shaped, toothed . STATUSCommon only in S England.

Many-seeded Goosefoot

Many-seeded Goosefoot

Flowers

Many-seeded Goosefoot Chenopodium polyspermum (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHTto 60cm

Spreading or upright annual stems square and usually reddish . Favours light, disturbed soils. FLOWERSSmall, numerous, in long spikes (July–Sep). FRUITSPartly enclosed by sepals. LEAVES Oval, untoothed , decreasing in size up stem. STATUSWidespread in England.

Good-King-Henry

Good-King-Henry

Flowers

Good-King-Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHTto 50cm

Upright introduced perennial; stems often streaked red. Favours disturbed arable land and waste ground. FLOWERSNumerous, in narrow, leafless spikes (May–Aug). FRUITSRinged by sepals at the base. LEAVESMealy when young but dark green with age; triangular in outline. STATUSLocal.

Frosted Orache

Frosted Orache Atriplex laciniata (Chenopodiaceae) USUALLY PROSTRATE

Distinctive silvery-grey plant that is characteristic of sandy beaches. Stems usually flushed with pink. FLOWERSWhitish, in clusters (July–Sep). FRUITSDiamond-shaped, toothed. LEAVES Fleshy, mealy , toothed, diamond-shaped. STATUSWidespread, locally common but exclusively coastal.

See also Saltmarsh Goosefoot

Babington’s Orache

Babington’s Orache Atriplex glabriscula PROSTRATE

A spreading, mealy annual. Restricted to stabilised shingle and bare, coastal ground. Stems usually reddish; whole plant often turns red in autumn. FLOWERSIn leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITSDiamond-shaped, maturing silvery white. LEAVESTriangular or diamond-shaped. STATUSLocally common.

Common Orache

Common Orache

Flowers

Common Orache Atriplex patula HEIGHTto 60cm

Variable, branched annual; sometimes upright but often prostrate. Found on bare ground. FLOWERSSmall, greenish, in leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITSDiamond-shaped, toothless, lacking warts. LEAVESToothed; upper ones lanceolate; lower ones triangular . STATUSWidespread and common.

Spear-leaved Orache

Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata HEIGHTto 70cm

Upright annual; stems often tinged red. Favours waste and bare ground near the sea. FLOWERSIn rather short spikes (July–Sep). FRUITSTriangular; surrounded by green bracts. LEAVESTriangular in outline; toothed; basal, largest teeth are at right angles to the stalk . STATUSWidespread and locally common.

Grass-leaved Orache

Grass-leaved Orache Atriplex littoralis HEIGHTto 1m

Upright annual of bare coastal ground. FLOWERSSmall, greenish, in spikes with small leaves (July–Sep). FRUITSGreenish, toothed, warty. LEAVES Long and narrow , sometimes with shallow teeth. STATUSLocally common.

Sea Beet

Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp . maritima HEIGHTto 1m

Sprawling, clump-forming perennial of cliffs, shingle beaches and other coastal habitats. FLOWERSGreen, in dense, leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITSSpiky; often sticking together in a clump. LEAVES Dark green, glossy and leathery with reddish stems ; shape varying from oval to triangular. STATUSLocally common.

Sea Purslanewith Common Sea-lavender