270 



GENUS ATRIPLEX. 



sometimes at the middle or even slightly above (and then approaching flabelliform) by 

 an exceptional development of the free margins, 4 to 5 mm. long, 4 to 5 mm. broad, the 

 green foliaceous margins irregular and acutely dentate, the faces smooth (except for a 

 dense scurf) or with only a few short protuberances; seed 1.5 to 1.8 mm. long, deep red- 

 dish-brown, nearly black, shining; radicle superior. 





r^ ( ■' ^ 



I corcfu/afs j I fu/arcnsfs I 



Lvs. cordate Lvs. rounded at 



at base; bracts base; bracts 



4-5 mm. long 2.5-5.5 mm. 



long 



Bracts 1-5-7-5 mm. 

 long, not pungent 



Plant widely branched, 

 low and rounded 



Fio. 33. — Phylogenetic chart of the Atriplex pitaiUa group. 



Confined to California; Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys; most common in the 

 latter. Type locality, near Little Oak (just southeast of Vacaville), Solano County, Cal- 

 ifornia. Collections: North of Norman, Glenn County, scarce, Hall 11007 (UC); type 

 collection, August 16, 1892, Jepson (Herb. Jepson, NY, US) ; near Stockton, July 

 17, 1896, Jepson (Herb. Jepson); near Volta, Merced County, September 21, 1918, 

 Severin (UC, strict, mostly simple-stemmed); same locality, July 20, 1920, Hall 11017 

 (UC, both simple-stemmed and widely branched plants); 16 km. south of Merced, 

 October 25, 1919, Hall (UC); near Chowchilla, Madera County, Hall 11787, 11790 

 (UC); Earhmart, Tulare County, Hall 11786 (UC); between Tulare and Tulare Lake, 

 Palmer 2727 (NY, immature). 



RELATIONSHIPS. 



This species stands between A. argentea and the group of small-fruited species assem- 

 bled by Standley under the sectional name Pusillae. In general appearance, especially 

 the robust habit, it is more like the former. The bracts, however, are more like those of 

 the latter, since they are for the most part widest below the middle. They are larger 

 than any in the other species of the Pusillae and when the free margins are exceptionally 



