328 



GENUS ATRIPLEX. 



as a distinguishing feature, since it seems to run parallel with habital and foliage c harac- 

 ters. But its variability in other species and the absence of entire constancy even 

 here, as shown in plate 51, also figure 46, suggest that further field studies may nullify 

 its criterial value. The lack of constancy is mentioned in the original descriptions of 

 nuttalli and gardneri. 



LvS. oblong or spa^u- 

 late or nearly obovate 

 brac+s mostly 

 aged 



Lvs. oblong-linear 

 with narrov*/ base; 

 bracts mostly 

 not appendaged 



Bracfs broadest abov 

 Bracts broadest usually not append- 

 3t or below the gged; 0"S. narrowly 

 iiddle\ oblong oroblanceo- 



late) 



j c/.cunesfs ] 



Lvs. acute at 



base, usually 



petloled 



Lvs. obtuse 

 at base 

 sessile 



Lvs. elongated, oblong - 

 linear to spatulate or 

 obovahe, tending to be 

 broadest above the 

 middle 



Lvs. short, broadly 

 elliptic to ovate, tend- 

 ing to be broadest 

 below the middle 



Bracts broader than fusi- 

 form, usually ovate or ob- 

 long to orbicular, the beak 

 lanceolate or wider or 

 want! 



Bracts fusifarrn,with atten- 

 uate beak 2 mm. or more 

 long. (Lvs. linear-spatulate) 



FlQ. 47. — Phylogenetio chart of the subspecies of Alnx^ez nuttalh 



