A. LENTIFORMIS. 335 



the branches of profuse terminal panicles, the fruiting branches sometimes curved 

 downward by the weight of their load; perianth 4- or 5-cleft in the staminate flowers, 

 wanting in the pistillate; fruiting bracts sessile, moderately compressed, united only 

 near the base or up to the middle, orbicular or slightly broader than long or rarely broad- 

 elliptic, 2 to 5 or 7 mm. long and broad, the free margins entire or crenulate, the faces 

 smooth; seed 1.2 to 1.5 mm. long, brown; radicle superior. {Obione lentiformis Torrey 

 in Sitgreaves Rep. Exp. 169, 1853.) 



Southern half of California, both on the coast and inland, to Nevada, southwestern 

 Utah, New Mexico, Sonora, and the border of Lower California. 



SUBSPECIES. 



The forms of Atriplex lentiformis may be assembled into four subspecies. Each 

 inhabits a different geographic area although typica and iorreyi closely approach each 

 other in eastern California. Subspecies typica is central, both geographically and phylo- 

 genetically, but since the others probably were derived from it, this form is given first 

 place in the sequence. 



Key to the Subspecies of Atriplex lentijormia. 

 Twigs not sharply angled. 



Mature bracts mostly crenulate on the margins, 2.5 to 4 or rarely 5 mm. broad; leaves 



mostly 1 to 2. .5 cm. wide. Interior (o) typica (p. 335). 



Mature bracts mostly entire, 3.5 to 5 or rarely 7 mm. broad; leaves mostly 1.5 to 5 cm. 



wide. Coastal (6) breweri (p. 335). 



Twigs sharply angled by several raised rib-like longitudinal striae. 



Mature bracts orbicular; leaves deltoid to ovate, rarely oblong (c) torreyi (p. 336). 



Mature bracts broader than long; leaves narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong (d) griffiihsi (p. 336). 



43a. Atriplex lentiformis typica. — Branches and twigs terete or with only obtuse 

 and irregular angles, often rigid, rarely becoming spiny; leaf-blades usually 2 to 4 cm. 

 long, 1 to 2.5 cm. wide; flowers mostly dioecious but some plants with both sexes; mature 

 bracts flattish or only slightly convex, mostly 2.5 to 4 mm. in diameter, or up to 5 mm. 

 and spongy-thickened when borne with staminate flowers, the margins minutely crenulate 

 or rarely entire. {Obione lentiformis Torrey in Sitgreaves, Rep. Exp. 169, 1853.) Sali- 

 nas and San Joaquin Valleys, California, to southwestern Utah; southward in the inte- 

 rior to Lower California and Sonora. Type locality, "on the Colorado of California." 

 Collections: California: Firebaugh, northwestern Fresno County, Hall 11760 (UC); 

 2.5 km. west of Coalinga, Fresno County, //oZi 11765 (UC); 8 km. south of King City, 

 SaUnas Valley, October 11, 1918, Severin (UC, pocket), Bakersfield, September 24, 

 1894, Eastwood (Gr, UC); Kern Lake, Datry 2911 (UC); Resting Springs Valley, Inyo 

 County, Coville and Funston 26^ (US); near Saratoga Springs, Death Valley, Coville 

 and Funston SOS (US); type collection, Sitgreaves Expedition, November, 1851 (Gr); 

 southwestern part of Colorado Desert, Orcutt 2083, 2084 (US); between Coachella 

 and Wolters, Colorado Desert, Schellenger 54 (UC); Salton Crossing, Colorado Desert, 

 April 3, 1901, Brandegee (UC); St. Joe, Nevada, Jones 50S0k (US); Colorado River, 

 Arizona, opposite Needles, March 3, 1910, Grinnell (UC); Chemehuevis Valley, Arizona, 

 Jepson 5197 (DS); Yuma, Arizona, Hall 11208 (UC); Tempe, Arizona, September 1, 

 1901, Thornber (UC, US); Gardners Lagoon, Lower California, Schoenfeldt 2913 (US); 

 20 km. north of Lerdo, Sonora, December 2, 1898, Price (DS); Altar River, Sonora, 

 August 25, 1884, Pringle (Gr, NY, US). Additional stations, some of which may be 

 for subspecies torreyi, include the following, according to Merriam (N. Am. Fauna 7: 

 327, 1893): Oasis, Pahranagat, Virgin, and Lower Muddy Valleys, all in Nevada; 

 Amargosa Canon and North of Willow Spring, Antelope Valley, California; and Santa 

 Clara Valley, Utah. 



436. Atriplex lentiformis breweri (Watson). Branches and twigs terete or with 

 only obtuse and irregular angles, not becoming spiny; leaf-blades usually 3 to 5 cm. 



