SALTBUSHES AND THEIR ALLIES IN THE UNITED STATES 1 Sf 
ash, 1.9 per cent of ether extract, 20.2 per cent of crude fiber, 40.2 
per cent of nitrogen-free extract, 15.8 per cent of protein, and 17.6 
per cent of pentosans. 
ATRIPLEX TRUNCATA (Torr.) A. Gray 
Atriplex truncata (Pl. VII, fig. 1) is an erect, branched annual 
herb, from a few inches to more than 3 feet high, usually about a 
foot. The leaves are oval to triangular, some of the upper ones 
being heart-shaped and clasping the stem. The whole plant is 
gray-green, owing to a mealy or scurfy coating, which makes it 
look gray. The ‘small fruits are borne in abundance in crowded 
clusters along the branches, especially toward the tips. 
The species was described from material collected in Nevada, 
which is near the middle of its distribution area. It grows freely 
on alkaline soils from British Columbia and eastern Washington to 
Wyoming and Colorado and south to California and northwestern 
New Mexico, abounding on the open plains and also as a roadside 
and vacant lot weed in the towns of that region. 
Department sample 7211 (W), consisting of complete leafy stems 
heavily loaded with half te fruit, collected at Lar amie, Wyo., 
August 14, 1914, contained, on an air-dry basis, 4.4 per cent of 
moisture, and, on a water-free basis, 22.4 per cent of ash, 1.6 per 
cent of ether extract, 21.5 per cent of crude fiber, 39.3 per cent of 
nitrogen-free extract, 15.2 per cent of protein, and 16.6 per cent of 
pentosans. 
A. truncata is eaten by cattle and sheep, just as are many of its 
near allies in the same region. 
ATRIPLEX WRIGHTII S. Wats. 
Atriplex wrightii is an erect, spreading annual, 1 to 3 feet high, 
with stout angled stems and numerous leaves, which are mealy when 
young but become smooth as they get old. The leaves are sometimes 
8 but usually 2 inches long or less, narrowly oblong or oval, taper- 
ing at the base but not petioled, and with several coarse, sharp teeth. 
The staminate flowers, dull yellow and crowded in terminal spikelike 
clusters, and the pistillate flowers, in small clusters among the leaves, 
are borne on the same plant. The fruits are numerous and small, 
with two-toothed bracts. 
The species grows in alkaline soil in southern California, western 
and southern Ne vada, southern and western Arizona, and adjacent 
Mexico. Seed is produced in large quantities. 
Department sample 8587 (G), consisting of material in full fruit, 
collected on the Santa Cruz bottoms near T ucson, Ariz., September 
25, 1906, contained, on an air-dry basis, 2.9 per cent of moistur e, and, 
on a water-free basis, 15.2 per cent of ash, 2.4 per cent of ether ex- 
tract, 28.8 per cent of crude fiber, 42.1 per cent of nitrogen-free 
extract, 11.5 per cent of protein, and 17.8 per cent of pentosans. 
On flats receiving one or two floodings in a season, large quantities 
of forage might be produced by A. wrightii, as well as by several 
other annual : species of this genus and other genera of this family. 
Such hay if properly cared for would be valuable in winter. 
43860°—25 2 
