Allenrolfea occidentalis

(S. Watson) Kuntze

Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 546. 1891.

Illustrated
Basionym: Halostachys occidentalis S. Watson Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 293. 1871
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 321. Mentioned on page 322, 335.

Plants 3–15 dm, ± glaucous. Stems woody proximally, fleshy distally; articulations (joints) (2–) 3–5 (–10) × 1–4.5 mm. Leaves deciduous; blade 2–4 × 2–3 mm. Inflorescences 6–25 × 2.5–4 mm. Utricles enclosed by perianth. Seeds ca. 0.6 mm.


Phenology: Flowering mid summer–late fall.
Habitat: Alkaline soils, mostly on raised sandy hummocks in salt playas and mud flats
Elevation: 1000-1700 m

Distribution

V4 623-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Idaho, N.Mex., Nev., Oreg., Tex., Utah, Mexico

Discussion

A dominant shrub of salt playas and mudflats in the American Southwest, iodine bush is easily distinguished from great distances by the dark hue of its stems. The blackish-colored shrubs stand in stark contrast to surrounding vegetation and on close examination can be easily distinguished from the opposite-branched, but vegetatively similar members of Sarcocornia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Allenrolfea occidentalis"
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br />) +
Leila M. Shultz +
(S. Watson) Kuntze +
slippery +
aromatic +
Halostachys occidentalis +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
triangular +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
deciduous +
reddish-brown +, black +, brown +  and green +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Idaho +, N.Mex. +, Nev. +, Oreg. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and Mexico +
1000-1700 m +
compressed +  and ovoid +
Alkaline soils, mostly on raised sandy hummocks in salt playas and mud flats +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
deciduous +
reduced +
not winged +  and winged +
lobed +  and serrate-dentate +
inferior +, half-inferior +  and superior +
crassinucellate +  and bitegmic +
campylotropous +
1 +  and single +
persistent +  and deciduous +
angled +  and 4-5-lobed +
Flowering mid summer–late fall. +
Revis. Gen. Pl. +
pointing +  and ascending +
bulbous +  and taprooted +
fusiform +
fleshy +  and fibrous +
verrucate +  and striate +
reddish-brown +  and brown +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (?) +
Illustrated +
cylindric +
1 +  and 2 +
not armed +  and much-branched +
opposite +  and alternate +
decumbent +  and erect +
fleshy +  and woody +
sessile +  and petiolate +
reduced;small +
horizontal +  and vertical +
verrucate +
Allenrolfea occidentalis +
Allenrolfea +
species +
deciduous +, evergreen +, perennial +  and annual +
polygamous +, dioecious +  and monoecious +