Chenopodium nutans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chenopodium nutans |
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Chenopodium
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nutans
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The climbing saltbush or nodding saltbush (scientific name: Chenopodium nutans) is a special plant from Australia. It's a type of groundcover, which means it spreads out and covers the ground. It can also climb!
What it Looks Like
This plant often forms a green blanket on the ground. It can climb over logs and even up trees. It usually reaches about 1 metre (about 3 feet) high. Each plant can spread out to be about 1 metre wide.
Its small leaves are a bit fleshy, like a succulent. They have a unique arrowhead shape. These leaves grow along long, vine-like branches. The branches spread out from the middle of the plant. Both the leaves and branches are a light green color.
Flowers and Berries
The flowers of the climbing saltbush are small and green. They look like tiny balls. These flowers grow on spikes at the end of the branches during summer.
After the flowers, tiny, bright-red berries appear in early autumn. These berries are very easy to spot!
How People Use It
Long ago, early European settlers in the Adelaide area of Australia used this plant. They would boil it with other types of saltbush. It was a way to get green vegetables for their meals.
Today, climbing saltbush is easy to grow. This makes it a great plant for revegetation projects. These projects help to bring plants back to areas where they have been lost.
It's also becoming popular in gardens. People like it because it doesn't need much care. It also doesn't need a lot of water, which is good for saving water!
