Kidney Saltbush: Gall

Class:

Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida)

Order:

Betalains (Caryophyllales)

Family:

Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) iNaturalist Observation

Species:

Kidney Saltbush (Atriplex stipitata)

This Photo:

Gall

Other names:

Mallee Saltbush or Bitter Saltbush

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

EXTRA - Photo Specific Information:
Interesting how we grew up being taught that mankind is the only species to change it's environment for it's own benefit.
RUBBISH; many animals do. Look at gall insects, they change the molecular structure of the plant to provide a safe haven for it to grow. Many animals dig burrows, make nests, etc.
General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
Previously we considered these to have swollen fruits, which didn't make much sense.
But of course we now realise they are galls.

This species is classed as

LC (Least Concern)

in the Murray Mallee, SA, by DENR (Regional Species Status Assessments, July 2010)

		<<< Previous Kidney Saltbush Galls & Flat Fruits		Next Species >>> Cottony Saltbush Big On Dead Callitris Trunk
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