TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California

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. gardneri (Moq.) D. Dietr. var. falcata (M.E. Jones) Welsh

Subshrub or shrub 1–6 dm
Stems several–many from base, generally unbranched, decumbent to erect, gray-scaly
Leaf: blade 15–45 mm, oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, gray-green, densely scaly
Pistillate inflorescence: bracts (sub)sessile, in fruit 4–8 mm, fused to near top, fusiform to ovoid, smooth to few-tubercled, tip long-tapered, margin entire, dentate or tubercled
Seed 1.5–2 mm
Ecology: Open, often alkaline soils, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1200–1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming
Other 5+ vars. in eastern GB, Rocky Mtns
Synonyms: A. nuttallii S. Watson var. f. M.E. Jones
Horticultural information: TRY.