Medium to tall, much branched, erect plant. Leaves are linear to linear oblong, the uppermost unstalked. Flowers in a long spike leafy only at the base. Fruit enclosed within triangular, toothed bracts.

Atriplex patula and prostrata.  Other aliens species may occur, and if in doubt, the key in Stace (4th edn.) should be referred to. Goosefoots (Chenopodium) are quite similar, and young plants can be difficult to determine.  

All Atriplex have the fruits enclosed by two enlarged bracteoles.

Lower leaves linear or narrowly lanceolate, more or less parallel-sided and without basal lobes. Bracteoles fused only at base.

Photos must show ripe fruits enclosed in bracteoles, and lower leaves

Often coastal, but spreading inland on well salted roads.

Flowers July to October.

Annual.

Widespread around the coast of Britain, more scattered inland, but probably increasing.

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland - the first record came from Houghton on the Hill in 1998. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.