66 TREES AM; SHRUBS 



recognized by its numerous erect stems and slender leaves, all 

 of which are white woolly, and its profuse terminal panicle, 

 the flowers and fruit of which are covered with white spread- 

 ing hairs. I he plant is considered as valuable forage by stock- 

 men of all kinds, but sheepmen prize it especially, because it 

 furnishes good feed at a time when other feed is scarce ; hence 

 its name. In the Northwestern states this plant is known as 

 WHITE SAGE. 



The ^ait Jbushes (Atriplex spp.y. This genus is repre- 

 sented in New Mexico by five more or less shrubby species. 

 Two of .hem (A. greggii and A. sabulosa) are woody at the 

 base only, the stems and branches being herbaceous and dying 

 down almost to the ground every year. These two plants are 

 rarely over 2 feet high, and are of no decorative importance 

 although of some value as forage. The other three species are 

 shrubs of some considerable size, generally 4 to 6 feet high, or 

 under favorable conditions even larger. 



The bhad Scale ( . Uriplex canescens) is one of the com- 

 monest of the shrubs found upon the drier mesas and plains 

 and in their arroyos practically throughout the State. It is a 

 gray much branched shrub with. narrow small leaves and dense 

 panicles of winged one-seeded fruits. The staminate flowers 

 appear in congested panicles on the ends of the stems about the 

 middle of the summer and by the middle of August the plants 

 are loaded with the conspicuous fruits, which are at first green 

 and later turn yellowish-brown, remaining on until well into 

 the winter. In many localities where there is no true sage 

 brush this plant is incorrectly referred to under' that name. 

 though it is in no way related to the sage brushes. Its grayish 

 scaly leaves and habit of growth are no doubt responsible for 

 this misapplication of the name. Economically it is a mod- 

 erately valuable forage plant, being eaten freelv by stock- 

 wherever it grow-. 



The tlier two shrubby species (Atriplex acanthocarpa 

 and .7. confertifolia) may be recognized, the first bv its 



