Atriplex polycarpa

(Torrey) S. Watson

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 9: 117. 1874.

Common names: Desert saltbush cattle-spinach
Basionym: Obione polycarpa Torrey in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 130. 1857
Synonyms: Atriplex curvidensb randegee
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 376. Mentioned on page 331, 360.
Revision as of 08:39, 30 July 2020 by imported>Volume Importer
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Shrubs, dioecious or sub-monoecious, mainly 10–20 dm. Leaves tardily deciduous, alternate, sessile or nearly so; blade spatulate to obovate or oblong, 3–15 (–2.) × 2–4 mm, margin entire, apex typically acute. Staminate flowers appearing silvery, in clusters 1.5–3 mm wide, borne in paniculate, naked spikes 5–25 cm; anthers yellow. Pistillate flowers with fruiting bracteoles sessile, cuneate-orbicular to semicircular, 1.5–2.5 × 2–3 mm, united to near middle, margin deeply laciniate-dentate, tuberculate or sometimes smooth dorsally. Seeds pale-brown, 1–1.5 mm. 2n = 18, 36.


Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Warm desert shrub communities (creosote bush, ambrosia, shadscale, mesquite, saltgrass, etc.), mainly in fine-textured saline substrates
Elevation: 60-1500 m

Distribution

V4 744-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah, n Mexico (Baja California to Sonora)

Discussion

Atriplex polycarpa consists of two or more chromosomal races based on different polyploid levels. The races form hybrids with Atriplex canescens in south California, resulting in partially stabilized entities known as varieties laciniata and macilenta. The plants evidently form hybrids with A. lentiformis.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Atriplex polycarpa"
wingless +  and winged +
Stanley L. Welsh +
(Torrey) S. Watson +
slippery +
aromatic +
Obione polycarpa +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
spatulate +  and obovate or oblong +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
persistent +  and deciduous +
reddish-brown +, black +, brown +  and green +
3-5-parted +
Desert saltbush +  and cattle-spinach +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Nev. +, Utah +  and n Mexico (Baja California to Sonora) +
60-1500 m +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
cuneate-orbicular +  and semicircular +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
not +  and connate +
enlarged +
Warm desert shrub communities (creosote bush, ambrosia, shadscale, mesquite, saltgrass, etc.), mainly in fine-textured saline substrates +
bladderlike +
terminal +  and axillary +
nearly +  and sessile +
deciduous +
not winged +  and winged +
laciniate-dentate +  and entire +
tuberculate +
toothed +  and lobed +
stipitate +  and sessile +
inferior +, half-inferior +  and superior +
crassinucellate +  and bitegmic +
campylotropous +
1 +  and single +
persistent +  and deciduous +
(1-)3-5-lobed +
papery +  and chartaceous +
Flowering spring–fall. +
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts +
pointing +  and ascending +
sublateral +  and superior +
bulbous +  and taprooted +
fusiform +
fleshy +  and fibrous +
verrucate +  and striate +
pale-brown +
flattened +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
cylindric +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
3 +  and 5 +
opposite +  and alternate +
succulent +
sessile +  and petiolate +
reduced;small +
horizontal +  and vertical +
verrucate +
Atriplex curvidensb +
Atriplex polycarpa +
Atriplex subg. Pterochiton +
species +
spicate +  and naked +
spicate +  and naked +
tuberculate +
dicotyledonous +
perennial +  and annual +
sub-monoecious +  and dioecious +