Atriplex saccaria
Atriplex saccaria var. cornuta
sack saltbush, sack saltweed, stalk orach, stalk orache
flat-horn orach
mainly 0.5–4(–5) dm;
stems usually branched from base, terete, stout, angled;
herbage scurfy.
terete or angled.
alternate or proximalmost subopposite, short petiolate or distal ones sessile;
petiole 2–5 mm;
blade cordate-ovate or subreniform to ovate to deltoid-ovate or oval, mainly 6–40 × 4–30 mm, base truncate to subcordate or broadly cuneate, margin entire or in some subhastately lobed or sometimes undulate-dentate, apex acute to rounded.
petiole mainly 1–3 cm, gradually shortened distally;
blade rhombic to deltoid or ovate, 10–25 mm and as broad or broader, base broadly to narrowly cuneate, apex acute to rounded.
in small sessile glomerules axillary in distalmost bracteate leaves.
usually in fascicles of 1–3 in proximal axils.
brownish to whitish, 1.5–2.3 mm.
glomerules in distal axils or in short, naked, terminal (early deciduous) panicles;
flowers with 5-parted calyx.
bracteoles monomorphic or dimorphic, larger ones on stipes (2–)4–8(–15) mm, others sessile, united at base, round-triangular or suborbicular, 4–6 mm, irregularly and coarsely dentate and with ± densely beset with flat, cristate, or hornlike appendages, smaller bracteoles (lacking or rare in var. asterocarpa) in same axils, oblong to cuneate, 3–4 mm, apex truncate, dentate only at summit, faces smooth.
bracteoles dimorphic, those on stipes (2–)4–15 mm or longer, with surfaces covered with flattened processes, sessile one cuneate as in type variety.
= 18.
Atriplex saccaria
Atriplex saccaria var. cornuta
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Atriplex saccaria var. cornuta is a Colorado Plateau endemic.
The rhombic to deltoid or flabellate, broadly cuneate leaves of this variety bear a superficial resemblance to those of Atriplex argentea, especially portions of var. rydbergii, possibly resulting in Jones’ subsequent placement of the taxon. Some specimens appear to grade with the partially sympatric and highly variable var. saccaria, especially with the phase that has passed under the name A. caput-medusae.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves mainly ovate to cordate in profile, the distalmost bracteate ones (and sometimes all) often broadly so in age; fruiting bracteoles with stipes to 10 mm, but seldom exceeding 6 mm; Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, s to Texas | var. saccaria |
1. Leaves oval to rhombic, the bases truncate to cuneate-attenuate; fruiting bracteoles with stipes of various length; sw Utah and adjacent states | → 2 |
2. Leaves oval to suborbiculate or less commonly elliptic; fruiting bracteoles with hornlike appendages, borne on stipes mainly 2-6 mm | var. asterocarpa |
2. Leaves rhombic to oval or triangular, base cuneate-attenuate; fruiting bracteoles with flattened processes, borne on stipes mainly 2-15 mm (sessile in some) | var. cornuta |
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