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356 BOTANICAL GAZETTE Lnovember 



upon the results of the examination of this material may be of 

 interest, especially since it served, in part, to disclose the new 

 species herein proposed, 



Atriplex canescens (Pursh) James, Catalogue 178. — This 

 well known species is strongly marked by its winged fruits, and 

 is more widely distributed than any of the species known to»the 

 writer. A very large series of specimens, covering a range 

 extending from the Dakotas to California, show no marked dif- 

 ferences, none sufficiently constant to constitute even a geo- 

 graphical fornr. 



Atriplex aptera, n. sp, — Perennial, from a woody base, the 

 annual stems fascicled, decumbent at base or even depressed, 

 more or less branched, 1-3^"^ high : leaves narrowly bblong, 2-4^"* 

 long, 5-8™"" broad, mostly obtuse, the base cuneately narrowed 

 to a subsessile base : fruiting spikes paniculate, crowded, brac- 

 teate ; the bracts linear-lanceolate, gradually reduced upward or 

 wanting : dioecious, only the pistillate plant seen ; fruiting 

 bracts united, scarcely stipitate, somewhat indurated, densely 

 scurfy, appendaged with three or four more or less vertical rows 

 of short vertically flattened processes, some of these often 

 expanded but scarcely wing-like. 



This is the only species that makes a close approach to A, canescens. It 

 is readily distinguished, however, by its smaller size, less woody condition, 

 and the wingless scurfy fruits. A. canescens occupies dry clay, chalk, and 

 marl cliffs and ridges ; while A, apiera occurs (so far as known) on moist 

 saline flats. It is a most excellent forage plant. The tyj^e is Elias Nelson 

 738, Laranxie, Wyoming, September igoi, 



Atriplex hymenelytra (Torr.) Wats. Proc. Am. Acad. 

 9:119. — The remarkable fruiting bracts will not permit this 

 species to be confused with any other. From the available 

 specimens it would seem that it does not come into the Rocky 

 mountain region proper, but extends from southern Utah into 

 southern California. 



Atriplex confertifolia (Torr.) Wats. Proc. Am. Acad. 

 9: 119. — ^This is peculiarly a Rocky mountain plant, but has an 

 extended north and south range, in fact across the United States. 



Atriplex acanthocarpa (Torr.) Wats. Proc. Am. z^cad. 



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