Atriplex cinerea thrives in coastal environments. It is considered native to Victoria but naturalised in some parts of the state. It is highly tolerant of salt and when compared to other coastal species, eg. Banksia integrifolia, Leptospermum laevigatum, Melaleuca lanceolata, this plant is often located closest to the sea, in the harshest of conditions. It is able to colonising sand dunes despite the prevailing winds and sea spray. The soils on which it grows are nutrient poor and can be highly alkaline. Survival in this environment is possible due to numerous adaptations, including epidermal bladder cells that can sequester the salt from vascular tissue/their interior, and C4 photosynthesis, present in many species of the genus Atriplex..
Commercial, nutritional, cultural and horticultural significance
Atriplex cinerea is often used by humans/local councils to help stabilise soils, prevent erosion and revegetate/rehabilitate at risk areas. The genus Atriplex is particularly useful in dryland salinity management where they can change the water table and surface soil characteristics allowing for other plants to then colonise. Joseph Maiden's 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that it was "once used as pot-herb in New South Wales. During his overland journey to Port Essington, Leichhardt used a species of Atriplex as a vegetable, and spoke very highly of it." Studies conducted on other Atriplex species demonstrated their potential use in agriculture. A study on Atriplex nummularia discovered the species have a nitrogen content of 2.5-3.5%, and could potentially be used as a protein supplement for grazing if palatable. A subsequent study allowed sheep and goats to voluntarily feed on Atriplex halimus and aimed to determine if the saltbush was palatable, and if so, did it provide enough nutrients to supplement the diet of these animals. In this study they determined when goats and sheep are given as much A. halimus as they like, they do obtain enough nutrients to supplement their diet – unless the animal requirements are higher during pregnancy and milk production. It is presumed A. cinerea, would have similar biochemical properties to A. hamilus and A. nummularia as they are all closely related to one another, hence also having the potential to be used in agriculture.
Recognition
Atriplex cinerea can be distinguished from other species of the genus Atriplex as it has all of the following features:
the species is a perennial shrub and can be dioecious.
The leaves are elliptic to oblong.
The fruiting bracteoles are free and sessile
Bracteoles are without inflated spongy appendages.
The leaves are concolorous, being silvery or grey green on both sides.
There is no other species that have all the above features within the genus Atriplex. The specimen in question also has to be within the recognised distribution. The features listed above were created with the help of an online Atriplex key on the VicFlora website, retrieved from https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/key/2191. Additionally, if the specimen being identified is in a known revegetated area, the use of local council planting guides of the area increases the likelihood of correct identification.
Conservation status
According to , a website by the Western Australian Herbarium, Atriplex cinerea is not threatened. In South Australia, it is considered of "least concern – stable" by , a conservation organisation sponsored by the South Australian Government. does not describe its conservation status in Victoria. The advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria do not mention Atriplex cinerea.
