Atriplex parishii var. subtilis
Atriplex subg. Obione
subtle orach
erect, much branched, 1–3 dm, densely scurfy;
branches opposite, often purple-reddish, neither ribbed nor striate;
internodes 5–15 mm.
mostly opposite, sessile;
blade ovate-triangular to broadly ovate, 2–4 × 1–3 mm, mostly cordate-clasping, densely scurfy on both sides.
usually with or, uncommonly, without Kranz anatomy.
of both sexes intermixed in axillary glomerules, but sometimes staminate clustered toward apex.
with calyx lobes crested or not.
lacking or rarely with a perianth (in A. covillei, A. pleiantha, and A. suckleyi), enclosed by a pair of bracteoles.
dark brown.
erect;
radicle typically superior (except in A. pleiantha), erect, tip adjacent to styles.
bracteoles persistent, deltoid, 2.4–2.8 mm and wide, margin with 1–3 pairs of irregular teeth, proximalmost usually larger and retrorse, apex shortly acuminate, with 2 longitudinal rows of tubercles on 1 or both surfaces.
cuneate to ovate or obovate united at least to middle, faces with tubercles or crests or smooth.
Atriplex parishii var. subtilis
Atriplex subg. Obione
Of conservation concern.
Atriplex depressa var. subtilis occurs with Allenrolfea occidentalis, Distichlis spicata, Centromadia pungens, Suaeda Moquin-Tandonii, Spergularia macrotheca, Frankenia salina, and Sporobolus airoides and other Atriplex spp. Stutz and Chu compared this variety with Atriplex depressa, with whose more northern range in the Central Valley it is contiguous. The leaves are relatively small and the stems are thin. Plants of var. subtilis appear very much like an elongated, gracile form of var. parishii.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species ca. 33 (27 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
