About Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. candolleanum
Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. candolleanum grows as a dense shrub reaching up to 2 meters in height. Its thick, almost succulent leaves are shiny green, with a paler underside. The leaves measure 1 to 3 cm long and 4 to 12 mm wide, with their widest section positioned towards the leaf base. Small pale flowers are arranged in panicles, and bloom between December and April, which corresponds to early summer to mid autumn in the subspecies' native range. After flowering, it produces flattened dark-red fruits that reach up to 4 mm in diameter. This subspecies is distributed across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. It is a coastal plant that grows on cliffs and dunes, and often scrambles among other shrubs. The related subspecies Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. argenteum grows near inland salt lakes. The leaves of Chenopodium candolleanum subsp. candolleanum can be cooked and eaten. Aboriginal people are reported to have consumed its berries, even though the berries have a bitter taste.
