Atriplex glauca L.   Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)   Europe   Four-Winged Saltbush

                                       August Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial dwarf shrub up to 50 cm., gray-green to silvery; lvs. up to 1 (-3)x0.5 (-1) cm., oblong-lanceolate to orbicular, entire or dentate, slightly fleshy, silvery, sometimes gray-green on upper surface; cymes in long spicate inflorescences; bracteoles 4-5 mm., ovate-rhombic, entire or dentate, sometimes almost 3-lobed, with numerous large appendages on the back.

Habitat:  This plant was introduced into the Upper Bay through hydro-mulching in 1987 and now is appearing in areas where it has been carried by the winds or the birds.  I have found it only in areas that are not heavily saline and usually at elev. +15 or higher. The plant fruits in the late summer and into the winter.  (my comments).  Later comment, 1994, the plant is becoming a pest and is covering large areas, it now occurs at elevs. lower than +15, possibly +7.

Name:  Atriplex, the ancient Latin name.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 352).  Greek, glaukos, silvery. (Jaeger 110).  Referring the appearance of the herbage.

General:  Becoming common as it naturalizes around the bay.  The bracts are variable and on some plants, one side is shorter than the other.  Photographed at 23rd Street.  Fred Roberts has determined that a hydromulch mix used in the Upper Bay did contain the seeds of A. glauca.  This tends to confirm the identification. (my comments).  See additional comments with habitat of the plant.        Over 100 spp., the genus essentially cosmopolitan.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 352).

Text Ref:  Tutin, et al. Vol. 1  95; Roberts 18.

Photo Ref:  Aug 1 86 # 12,13,14; Sept 1 86 # 7,8,9,10; Oct-Jan 87-88 # 17,18,19.

Identity: by F. Roberts.

First Found:  August 1986.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 297

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 11/20/02.

                             September Photo                                                                         September Photo