 Photo ©
Carl Farmer |
Occasional on bare waste ground, rubbish heaps etc. Flower diameter c 2-4 mm ID: Similar to oraches, but told from them in flower by having both stamens and styles in the same flower. The fruit is enclosed by five equal sepals rather than 2 large bracts as in oraches. Told from Sea Beet by at least the lower leaves being toothed. Other features: Plant often mealy, especially early in year. Leaves very variable, typically widest at a point well below the middle, narrowing from there with two straightish untoothed sides to the V-shaped base, and with straightish toothed sides to the tip. Flowers in ball-like clusters, which are themselves arranged in spikes, and these in turn arranged in leafy super-spikes. Each flower has 5 green equal sepals, 5 yellow stamens and 2-3 styles. |
