The image, above, shows the full Common Orache plant(Atriplex patula) when in flower, right. Also shown is
an immature plant, showing the shape of the leaves, top left and
the immature seed heads, bottom leaft..
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Common Name: Common Orache |
| Scientific Name: Atriplex patula |
| Other Names: Wild Orache, Spreading Orach, Spear Saltbush and Common Orach |
| Family: Chenopodiaceae |
| Range: Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia. |
Physical Characteristics
Atriplex patula is a hardy Annual plant, growing to 80cm (2 ft 7 in) by 50cm (20 in) in size. It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. The plant flowers from July to September and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are wind or insect pollinated. The plant can also be self-pollinated.
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| Edible Parts: Leaves, Seeds |
 Edibility Rating: 3 
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 Known Hazards: Though almost all reports say that no member of this genus contains any toxic compounds and that all have (to one degree or other) edible leaves we have found a single report saying that consumption of large quantities of the leaves can lead to photosensitivity. It is also possible that if the plants are grown with artificial fertilizers they may concentrate harmful amounts of nitrates in their leaves.
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Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Wild Food guide to Common Orache along with all the Common Orache containing recipes presented on this site, with 1 recipes in total.
This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.
These recipes, all contain Common Orache as a major wild food ingredient.
Common Orache, Atriplex patula, (also known as Wild Orache, Spreading Orach, Spear Saltbush and Common Orach) is an annual flowering plant and a member of the Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot) family. Most of which are edible to some degree. Common Orache typically grows to 75cm tall and is in flower from July to September with its seeds ripening from August to October. The flowers themselves are monoecious (ie either male or female) though both flower types are found ona single plant. The plant tends to grow in disturbed ground and requires moist un-shaded soil.
Of the entire Goosefoot family, Common Orache is both the commonest of the group and is the one with most flavour. The young leaves can be used raw in salads or can be cooked as a spinach substitute (though they are fairly bland). However, they are good puréed and mixed with pasta dough. The seeds can also be ground and mixed into cornmeal, or used as a thickener to soups (though they are more than a little difficult to harvest, to say the least). The seeds can also be used as an adulterant in wheat flour.
It is usually found on waste ground and arable land near the coasts and prefers clay and heavy soils.
[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–8.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms
[12]. Bunker, F.; Brodie, J.A.; Maggs, C.A. & Bunker, A. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia — A Source Book of Edible Plants
This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.
These recipes, all contain Common Orache as a major wild food ingredient.
Common Orache, Atriplex patula, (also known as Wild Orache, Spreading Orach, Spear Saltbush and Common Orach) is an annual flowering plant and a member of the Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot) family. Most of which are edible to some degree. Common Orache typically grows to 75cm tall and is in flower from July to September with its seeds ripening from August to October. The flowers themselves are monoecious (ie either male or female) though both flower types are found ona single plant. The plant tends to grow in disturbed ground and requires moist un-shaded soil.
Of the entire Goosefoot family, Common Orache is both the commonest of the group and is the one with most flavour. The young leaves can be used raw in salads or can be cooked as a spinach substitute (though they are fairly bland). However, they are good puréed and mixed with pasta dough. The seeds can also be ground and mixed into cornmeal, or used as a thickener to soups (though they are more than a little difficult to harvest, to say the least). The seeds can also be used as an adulterant in wheat flour.
It is usually found on waste ground and arable land near the coasts and prefers clay and heavy soils.
References:
[1]. David Evans Notes from field observations, tastings and cookery experiments.[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–8.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms
[12]. Bunker, F.; Brodie, J.A.; Maggs, C.A. & Bunker, A. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia — A Source Book of Edible Plants
The alphabetical list of all Common Orache recipes on this site follows, (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 1 recipes in total:
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| A Messe of Greens Origin: Britain |
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