276 GENUS ATRIPLEX, 



2. A. MINU8CULA Standley, N. Am. Fl. 21 :51, 1916. — No characters can be found upon which to retain this 

 proposal as distinct from parishi. The scurf of the branches consists merely of short scales, as in the preceding 

 variation, under which the value of this feature is discussed. The leaves are mostly alternate, as in typical par- 

 ishi, but leaf-scars and branches on the type indicate opposite leaves for about one-fourth the way up. The 

 fruiting bracts are 2 to 3 mm. long and smooth on the sides, although the margins are dentate or crenulate. The 

 presence or absence of appendages is much too variable a character to be used here. Both kinds of bracts are 

 often found on the same plant and in some cases even in the same pair (see for example, plate 41, fig. 22). 

 It has been noticed that on some plants one bract of each pair, namely, the one facing the adjacent leaf, is 

 smooth, whereas the one on the stem side is muricate; thus, since the fruits are horizontal all of them appear to 

 be muricate as one looks from above upon the living plant (Hall 11005). Type locality, between Tulare and 

 Tulare Lake, California. 



RELATIONSHIPS. 



This species belongs to a group of three, the origin and relationships of which are but 

 little known. The probable connections have been indicated under A. pusilla. In 

 connection with the original description, Watson stated that A. parishi belonged to the 

 patula group, but the superior radicle, as well as an absence of similarity in nearly all 

 other features, indicates that this was an erroneous assignment. The short, stiff, scale- 

 like leaves and the very rigid stems, which become brittle and break into short joints at 

 maturity, are unlike those of any other Atriplex. The plants have been described as 

 prostrate, but they are perhaps never truly so, except by injury to the main axis or 

 through trampling. However, the lateral branches commonly spread horizontally, 

 so that the lower ones recline on the ground and in some herbarium specimens all are 

 flattened out and apparently prostrate. The outline of the whole plant when permitted 

 to develop normally is approximately hemispheric, as shown in the thumb sketch (plate 

 41). 



ECOLOGY AND USES. 



Atriplex parishi forms families in areas of white alkali, often surrounded by Distichlis, 

 or mixes with A. fruticulosa and Distichlis in similar areas. It also occurs on disturbed 

 saline soil with Frankenia. It is evidently more resistant to alkali than is Hemizonia 

 pungens, as it grows vigorously where the latter is small and sparse. The plants bloom 

 from May to September. 



This is an important host-plant of Eutettix in the San Joaquin Valley. 



17. ATRIPLEX TRUNCATA (Torrey) Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 8:398, 1872. Plate 42. 



Wedgescale. 



Erect annual herb (somewhat decumbent in minor variation 2, A. subdecumbens Jones), 

 2 to 10 dm. high, with ascending branches throughout or unbranched (minor variation 1, 

 variety stricta Gray); branches slender, angled, Hghtly furfuraceous, early glabrate, the 

 bark then dull-white or reddish; leaves alternate or the lower ones perhaps opposite, 

 mostly sessile, deltoid or triangular-ovate or rounded-ovate, rarely approaching oval, 

 broad and truncate or subhastate or rarely rounded at base, acute or obtuse at apex, 1 

 to 3 or 4 cm. long, 0.8 to 2 cm. wide, entire or only undulate, thin, grayish furfuraceous 

 especially beneath, tardily glabrate; flowers monoecious, in small glomerules of the mid- 

 dle and upper axils, the upper glomerules mostly or entirely staminate but a few stami- 

 nate flowers often in the lower clusters also; perianth of 4 or 5 sepals in the staminate 

 flowers, wanting in the pistillate; fruiting bracts sessile or on very short stalks, scarcely 

 compressed, united to the summit, broadly cuneate, truncate at summit, 2 to 3 mm. long, 

 2 to 3 mm. broad, the green margins developed only across the summit and here with 2 

 to 4 minute teeth, the faces smooth or rarely with 1 or 2 minute tubercles, the scurf 

 obscure and the veins and reticulations prominent; seed 1 to 1.5 mm. long, light brown 



