Marsh saltbush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marsh saltbush |
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| Atriplex paludosa at Altona Coastal Park, Victoria | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Atriplex
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| Species: |
paludosa
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The Atriplex paludosa, often called marsh saltbush, is a special type of saltbush plant. It grows only in Australia.
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What is Marsh Saltbush?
The marsh saltbush is a plant that grows like a small, upright bush. It can reach about one metre (or about three feet) tall. Its leaves are shaped like ovals. They are usually between one and four centimetres long and two to fifteen millimetres wide.
How Scientists Name Plants (Taxonomy)
Discovering the Marsh Saltbush
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to name and classify living things. This helps us understand how different plants and animals are related. The marsh saltbush was first described by a famous botanist named Robert Brown in 1810. He found a sample of the plant near a place called Port Dalrymple, which is now known as Launceston, Tasmania.
Different Types of Marsh Saltbush
Even though it's one species, there are four slightly different types, or subspecies, of marsh saltbush. These are:
- A. paludosa subsp. paludosa
- A. paludosa subsp. baudinii
- A. paludosa subsp. cordata
- A. paludosa subsp. moquiniana
Where Marsh Saltbush Grows
The marsh saltbush is found in several parts of Australia. You can see it growing in the southwestern areas of Western Australia, in South Australia, across Victoria, and along the coast of Tasmania. It usually grows in places where the soil might be a bit salty, like near the coast or in marshy areas.
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