SALTBUSHES AND THEIR ALLIES IN THE UNITED STATES 13 
species. In the literature it is usually referred to as Nuttall’s salt- 
bush, but in the Plains region it is generally called saltsage, in dis- 
tinction to other gray bushes, some of which are true sagebrush. 
Department sample 8831 (G), consisting of the growth of the 
year, in immature fruit, was collected at Hav re, Mont.. August 31, 
1907. Department sample 7212 (W), consisting of similar material, 
was collected 15 miles south of Laramie, Wyo., August 16, 1914. 
Composition (water-free basis) 
Moisture = 
} Nitrogen-| 
Ash | Fed kapeh nde | free | Protein Aine 
| extract | , 
| 
Sample 
| 
| 
i 
Per cent | Per cent Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent | Per cent 
Department 8831 (G)__--------- 4a) 16. 8 | 1.7 Sean 2a tl 11. 7 | 21.5 
Department 7212 (W)---__------| 4.6 | 16.8} - 20) 21.0 44.1) 16.1 | 18.1 
Wyoming (19) (2samples) _--____ 5. 4 | i4. 4 La! | 24. 0 45.8 | EY CaSeet Eo = 
Averapet #2428) yes <e 4.7 15.6 | 1.5 23. 7 | 44.9 14.3 BUOY ¢ BET... 
i 
t 
—_ 
! 
=— 
A. nuttallii is a valuable forage plant for cattle and sheep through- 
out its distribution area, in some places forming the main winter 
feed. 
ATRIPLEX POLYCARPA (Torr.) S. Wats.*° 
Atriplex polycarpa (Pl. VI, figs. 2 and 3) is a thickly branching 
shrub, 2 to 4 feet high, with numerous small, scurfy, white leaves on 
many slender, equally scurfy, white twigs. The bark on old woody 
stems is gray, and old stems are rigid, sometimes ending in stiff 
spines. The nearly elliptical leaves, one-quarter to one- half inch 
long, with perfectly entire margins, are thick and crowded on the 
stem. 
This species, known locally as desert sage, grows on alkaline 
soils in southern California and Nevada, ranging south into Ari- 
zona, Sonora, Mexico, and Lower California. In almost pure 
stands, it occupies large areas along the Gila Valley in western 
and southwestern Arizona, whence the species was originally de- 
scribed. 
Department sample 8250 (G) consists of young stems and leaves 
of the year, collected at Maricopa, Ariz., May 5, 1906. Department 
sample 8585 (G) consists of leafy and fruiting branches, 4 to 6 
inches long, in young fruit, collected at Tempe, Ariz., September, 
24, 1906. 
Composition (water-free basis) 
| | 
Sample Moisture : at 4 
Ri ticae extract fiber | Sh | those ted SETS 
extract } 
——>}~ 
| : — 
Percent | Percent | Percent| Per cent | Per cen Bi, cent | Per cent 
t 
Department 8250 (G)___________ 5.8 | 25. 8 2.4 15.3 38. 1 | 18: 4 WES 
Department,8585 (G)___-__._-_- 1.8 | 23. 3 Aas 16. 1 47.-1 11.2 | 16.8 
i: TAU 7TE ES As) ke Ther aa 14. 0 2.0 Sy 38. 4 | 132 95} - 323 oe 
140 eee ee 
JL eile ae 4.4{; 21.0 | S20 41.2 | 
104, curvidens Brandegee. 
