Ruby Saltbush
Mature Yellow Fruit
Ellura
Leafless Bluebush
Whole
 
                      
Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa var tomentosa)Class: Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida)
Order: Betalains (Caryophyllales)
Family: Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa var tomentosa)
This Photo:     Mature Green Fruit
Other name: Barrier Saltbush

Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie), Reiner Richter, Geoffrey Cox & Luke and Denise Flitter for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA), the Flinders Ranges, the Riverland, Coastal Areas and elsewhere
A soft, pretty little bush with bright, shiny, ruby red to yellow fruits (on the same bush). Young fruit is green.
We're pretty sure that the old fruits can also be green (as per photo here). Others suggest all fruit goes red with time, but we don't agree with this; with our specimens. It's always possible there are unknown subspecies with different behaviours.
Leaves can be pale green (almost white) thru dark green with dark red tips, cylindrical and succulent.
Stem is generally grey and woody.
Can have a spreading or upright habit, often entwined in another bush.

Copyright © 2013-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 01-Jul-2013
This species is classed as LC (Least Concern) in the Murray Mallee, SA, by DENR (Regional Species Status Assessments, July 2010)