Ruby Saltbush - Enchylaena tomentosa

Enchylaena tomentosa

This inconspicuous little succulent is a halophyte that can be found in any state of Australia, and has edible leaves and berries. The berries are small (~5mm) and though usually red can be yellow, although I believe that the yellow fruit are immature stages of the red fruit, as they occur on the same plant. The plant is quite variable, from prostrate to upright, with grey to green leaves. There are two varieties in South-east QLD, E. tomentosa var. tomentosa and E. tomentosa var. glabra, having either tomentose or glabrous stems and leaves respectively.

Genus species	Ruby Saltbush
CHENOPODIACEAE
Identification Shrub up to 1.5m (rarely this tall), often procumbent. Terete (cylindrical) leaves tomentose, giving greyish appearance. Fruiting perianths red or yellow, depressed-globose, succulent	Habitat Found throughout most of Australia, both coastally and inland, also a common plant of salt marshes.
Flowers  year round	Fruits  year round
Etymology   Tomentose – covered with short dense matted hairs	Warning   None
Edibility Raw- fruit and leaves	Medicinal Prevents scurvy



Red and yellow fruit on the same shrub

The leaves have been eaten by early white people in Australia to prevent and/or cure scurvy. There is no other medical information available on this plant. There are records of the fruit being eaten by the Alyawara people of central Australia.



Cylindrical cross section of succulent leaf



Leaf arrangement around stem



The fruit taste sweet and salty



The large seed inside each fruit

Exerpt from Stanley & Ross

 

References O’Connell, J & Barnett, P. 1983.  Traditional and Modern Plant Use among the Alyawara of Central Australia. Economic Botany 37(1) : 80-109 Stanley, T & Ross, E. Flora of South-eastern Queensland V1. 1983. Department of Primary Industries (QLD)