Neha Patil (Editor)

Atriplex watsonii

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Family
  
Amaranthaceae

Scientific name
  
Atriplex watsonii

Rank
  
Species

Order
  
Caryophyllales

Genus
  
Atriplex

Higher classification
  
Saltbush

Similar
  
Saltbush, Extriplex californica, Atriplex suberecta, Atriplex elegans, Atriplex leucophylla

Atriplex watsonii is a species of saltbush known by the common name Watson's saltbush, or Watson's orach. It is native to the coastline of California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal areas with saline soils, such as salt marshes and beach scrub, with other halophytes such as saltgrass. It extends inland in the Los Angeles Basin, and along the Santa Ana River.

Description

This is a gray-green to whitish perennial herb with tangled slender stems under a meter in length. It grows in mats up to 3 meters wide. The thick, fleshy, crusty leaves are up to 2.5 centimeters long and generally oval in shape.

The plant is dioecious, with individuals bearing either male or female flowers. The male flowers grow in clusters or long spikes, and the female flowers can be found in small clusters in the leaf axils.

References

Atriplex watsonii Wikipedia