Atriplex torreyi

(S. Watson) S. Watson

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 9: 119. 1874.

Common names: Torrey’s saltbush
Endemic
Basionym: Obione torreyi S. Watson Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 290. 1871
Synonyms: Atriplex lentiformis subsp. torreyi (S. Watson) H. M. Hall & Clements Atriplex lentiformis var. torreyi (S. Watson) McMinn
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 378. Mentioned on page 330, 369.

Shrubs, dioecious, forming broad clumps, mostly (8–)1.2–20(–30) dm; branchlets striately and often sharply angled, glabrous or sparingly puberulent, often becoming bluntly spiny. Leaves persistent, alternate; petiole 1–4 mm; blade grayish or greenish, ovate to deltate, rhombic, oval, or lanceolate, typically subhastate, (5–)12–32 × 4–16(–20) mm, base truncate to obtuse, margin entire (rarely toothed), apex obtuse and apiculate. Staminate flowers yellow, in clusters 1 mm wide, borne in panicles mainly 10–30 cm. Pistillate flowers in once-branched panicles. Fruiting bracteoles sessile, orbiculate, greatly compressed, 1.3–4 mm, about as wide, margin crenate, apex rounded. Seeds brown, 1–1.9 mm wide.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Fruiting bracteoles mainly 1.3-3.8 × 2-4.6 mm, orbiculate to subreniform in outline; petiole 2-4 mm; rather broad distribution, but not of Cochise County, Arizona Atriplex torreyi var. torreyi
1 Fruiting bracteoles mainly 3-4 × 5-6 mm, subreniform; petiole 1-2 mm; Cochise County, Arizona Atriplex torreyi var. griffithsii