TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

CHENOPODIACEAE

GOOSEFOOT FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken, except as specified

Annual to tree, sometimes monoecious or dioecious, glandular or with bead-like hairs that collapse with age, becoming scaly or powdery
Stem often fleshy
Leaves generally alternate, entire to lobed; veins generally pinnate
Inflorescence: raceme, spike, catkin-like, or spheric cluster, or flower 1; bracts 0–few
Flower: sepals 1–5, often 0 in pistillate flowers, free or fused, generally persistent in fruit; petals 0; stamens 0–5; ovary generally superior, chamber 1, ovule 1, styles 1–3
Fruit: generally utricle
Seed 1, vertical (fruit compressed side-to-side) or horizontal (fruit compressed top-to-bottom)
Genera in family: 100 genera, 1300 species: worldwide, especially deserts, saline or alkaline soils; some cultivated for food (Beta , beets, chard; Chenopodium , quinoa)
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated in expanded Amaranthaceae

ATRIPLEX

SALTBUSH

Dean Taylor and Dieter H. Wilken

Annual (generally monoecious) to shrub (generally dioecious), often scaly
Leaves generally alternate, generally entire; lower generally ± short-petioled; upper generally sessile, ± reduced
Staminate inflorescence: spike or spheric cluster; bracts 0
Pistillate inflorescence: clusters to spike- or panicle-like; bracts 2 per fruit, free to fused, generally compressed, generally sessile
Staminate flower: calyx lobes 3–5; stamens 3–5
Pistillate flower: calyx ± 0; ovary ovoid to spheric, style branches 2
Seed generally erect
Species in genus: ± 250 species: temp to subtropical worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name)
Generally in alkaline or saline soils; some weedy; some accumulate selenium.

Native

A. minuscula Standl.

LESSER SALTBUSH

Annual < 4 dm
Stems many from base, ascending to erect; branches spreading, brittle, reddish, peeling
Leaves opposite; blade 1–4 mm, ovate to cordate, white-scaly below, green above, base oblique; lower sessile
Pistillate inflorescence: bracts in fruit ± 2–3 mm, fused to near top, ovate to diamond-shaped, densely tubercled, entire
Seed 0.8–0.9 mm, reddish
Ecology: Sandy, alkaline soils
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s San Joaquin Valley.Related to A. depressa or A. parishii.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for ATRIPLEX%20minuscula being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Atriplex minuscula
Retrieve dichotomous key for Atriplex
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California