Atriplex laciniata

Herbs, procumbent, many branched, alternate except basally, 0.06–3 dm. Stems reddish or yellowish, smooth or subangular. Leaves with blade ovate to lance-ovate or lanceolate to oblong, 15–45 mm, large basal lobes, obtuse, cuneate to a short petiole, margin sinuate-dentate, scurfy on both sides. Flowers in glomerules in distal leaf axils, axillary or in short terminal spikes. Fruiting bracteoles whitish green, sessile or subsessile, broadly rhombic, (4–)6–7(–8) mm, thickened at base, becoming scaly in age, cartilaginous in basal 1/2, lateral angles strongly produced and with margin mostly entire, faces smooth or irregular, pointed, or flattened and winglike tubercles in basal 1/2. Seeds monomorphic, light brown, 3.5–4 mm wide; radicle inferior. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Sand, cobble on more or less protected beaches, on Zostera and Fucus wrack
Elevation: 0-50 m

Introduced; N.B., N.S., P.E.I., Que., Europe.

Discussion

Atriplex laciniata is evidently rare in North America.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa