Australian Native Plants

  Rhagodia spinescens (Thorny Saltbush)


Rhagodia spinescens photo
Rhagodia spinescens

Photograph by Murray Fagg. Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Rhagodia spinescens photo
Rhagodia spinescens

Photograph by Murray Fagg. Some rights reserved.    (view image details)



Credits:
Description and Habitat information is sourced from: State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria), Victorian Resources Online,http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/water_sip_scientific_a Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.



Growth Characteristics information is sourced from: State Flora Catalog, Government of South Australia Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.



THORNY SALTBUSH FACTS

distribution map showing range of Rhagodia spinescens in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Thorny Saltbush

Other Names
Creeping Saltbush, Hedge Saltbush, Berry Saltbush

Description
The Thorny Saltbush is perennial shrub, with rigid branches to 1.5 m high, the older branchlets often ending in a spine. Leaves mealy-white or greenish, 5 - 10 mm long, oblong to almost round, sometimes lobed at base, tapering into a conspicuous stalk.

Flowers in spikes or short panicles. Fruit a deep-red berry, 4-6 mm diameter. Flowering most of the year, but mainly in spring - summer.

Habitat
A wide range of soils, more frequent on loams and clay loams but also common on heavy clays. Usually in association with other low shrubs, or as an understorey in numerous woodland communities.

Distribution
Native to inland parts of Australia: South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory,

Growth Characteristics
Height (m): 0.5
Spread (m): 2 - 3
Soil Texture: sand, loam, clay, limestone
Soil pH: acid soils, neutral soils, alkaliine soils
Frost Sensitivity: resistant
Minimum Rainfall (mm): 300
Flower Colour: insignificant
Flower Season: autumn, winter

(source: SA State Flora Catalog)



Classification
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Amaranthaceae
Genus:Rhagodia
Species:spinescens
Common Name:Thorny Saltbush


Relatives in same Genus
  Rhagodia candolleana