Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. var. canescens(1)

by Matthew Fry, Native Plants Class 2003
Common names: four wing salt bush(1)
Family: Chenopodiaceae (1)
Synonymy: Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. var. occidentalis (Torr. & Frém.) Welsh & Stutz
Atriplex tetraptera (Benth.) Rydb.(1)
Etymology: Atriplex is the ancient classical name for the genus; canescens refers to the silvery hairs on the leaves.

Identification
Growth form: Shrub. (1)
Roots:
Stem: stout and woody 20-250 cm tall loosely to densely branched. (2)
Leaves: Sessile 1 to 5 cm long, linear to obovate to narrowly oblong 2-8 mm wide. (2)
Inflorescence/flowers: Male flowers in terminal panicals of dense spikes, female flowers dense, leafy bracted spikes, panicals. (2)
Fruit:
Similar species: Atriplex polycarpa. (1,2)

Ecology
Life history: Perennial. (1,2)
Native/introduced: Native (1,2)
Photosynthetic pathway: C4
Phenology: flowers bloom from July to August. (2)
Distribution: Fourwing saltbush is widely distributed throughout the western United States from the Pacific Coast Ranges to the Great Plains. It extends from northern Mexico to southern Canada in the follwing states AZ CA CO ID KS MT ND NE NM NV OK OR SD TX UT WA WY AB MB MEXICO (4).

Uses
Provides forage for livestock and wildlife (deer, pronghorn, small birds, rodents) Native Americans used seeds for meal, and leaves and new shoots for green and yellow dyes.(2,3)

References
1. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Plants Profile. http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile

2. Epple A.O., Epple L.E., 1995 A Field Guide To The Plants Of Arizona.

3. Plummer A.P. et al Utah State Department of Fish and Game, 1966. Fourwing Saltbush a shrub for future game ranges.

4. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/atrcan/distribution_and_occurrence.html