Species Detail Forb

Flowers		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Atriplex elegans - wheelscale saltbush Synonyms: Atriplex elegans var. thornberi, Atriplex thornberi Other Common Names: wheelscale, (Spanish: chamizo cenizo) Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Chenopodiaceae
Flowers


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Flower and leaves Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Plant Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: A bushy, much branched species of saltbush that is covered by small, silvery scales.
Identification notes: Bracts circular with toothed margins all around, distinguishes this from other Atriplex species.
Height: 1 to 3 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Abundant in all types of soils from California to Texas.
Plant Communities: Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 100 - 3500 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Pale greenish-yellow Shape: Irregular in round clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Nov
Description: Flowers are conspicuous, abundant and clustered at the base of the leaves.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Toothed Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: No Spines: N
Leaf Description: Erect stems branch from the base. Lower leaf surface is silvery, scaled and the top surface is green.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Light brown
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: Fruiting bracts are compressed and fused near the tip.
Seed Notes: The seed is enclosed between 2 wheel-shaped bracts.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer