Atriplex confertifolia

(Torrey & Frémont) S. Watson

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 9: 119. 1874.

Common names: Shadscale
WeedyEndemic
Basionym: Obione confertifolia Torrey & Frémont in J. C. Frémont, R ep. Exped. Rocky Mts., 318. 1845
Synonyms: Atriplex collina Wooton & Standley Atriplex subconferta Rydberg Obione rigida Torrey & Frémont
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Mentioned on page 330, 349, 372, 373.

Shrubs, dioecious, 3–8 dm, spinescent. Leaves persistent, alternate; petiole 1–4 mm; blade orbiculate to ovate, elliptic, or oval, 9–25(–45) × 4–20(–25) mm, margin entire, apex obtuse. Staminate flowers yellow, in clusters 2–4 mm wide or in spikes to 1 cm, axillary, in foliose-bracteate, divaricately branched panicles 3–15 cm. Pistillate flowers in similar paniculate inflorescences. Fruiting bracteoles sessile or subsessile, suborbiculate to rhombic or elliptic, 4–12 mm and wide, body indurate, terminal teeth distinct, foliaceous, shorter than bracteoles, entire or toothed below, terminal teeth spreading at maturity, faces smooth, lacking appendages. Seeds 1.5–2 mm wide. 2n = 18, 36, 54+.


Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Gravelly to fine-textured soils in greasewood, mat-atriplex, other salt desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities
Elevation: 600-2200 m

Distribution

V4 745-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., Oreg., Tex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Shadscale forms hybrids with Atriplex canescens, A. garrettii, A. corrugata, and A. gardneri varieties. It is, however, closely allied to A. parryi and A. spinifera. The plants are widely dispersed, typically on saline substrates but less commonly on essentially non-saline ones, through large areas of the western United States and adjacent Canada and Mexico, on both raw and exposed geological strata and on alluvium.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Atriplex confertifolia"
Stanley L. Welsh +
(Torrey & Frémont) S. Watson +
Obione confertifolia +
Shadscale +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, N.Dak. +, Oreg. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
600-2200 m +
Gravelly to fine-textured soils in greasewood, mat-atriplex, other salt desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities +
Flowering spring–fall. +
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts +
Weedy +  and Endemic +
Atriplex collina +, Atriplex subconferta +  and Obione rigida +
Atriplex confertifolia +
Atriplex subg. Pterochiton +
species +