SALTBUSHES AND THEIR AULIES IN THE UNITED STATES ye 
ATRIPLEX LENTIFORMIS (Torr.) S. Wats. 
Atriplex lentiformis (Pl. V, fig. 2) is a large bush, frequently 8 
to 10 feet high in favorable locations, widely branching, the older 
stems stout and dull gray, and the younger stems slender and white 
scurfy, bearing numerous silvery-white, scurfy, triangular to oval 
leaves, 1 to 2 inches long and half as broad, on short petioles. The 
fruit and very small yellowish flowers are borne in large, widely 
branching panicles on the ends of the branches; they are produced 
abundantly on protected bushes. The plant rarely produces seed 
on the open range, where it is always closely browsed. 
This plant is native in alkaline soils in southwestern Utah, western 
Arizona, southern California, and adjacent Mexico. 
Department sample 8581 (G) consists of the ends of branches, 
foot long or less, bearing leaves of the year, and young fruit, is 
lected at Tempe, Ariz., “September 94, 1906. Department sample 
11090 (G) was collected at Point Firma, near San Pedro, Calif., 
October, 1915. 
Composition (water-free basis) 
Sample Moisture F ! 
ee Ether Crude | ee Pantoi Pento- 
extract fiber ECE sans 
Per cent | Per cent | Per cent | Per cent | Per cent | Per cent |} Per cent 
Department 8581 (G) ___.__-_-- 2 Dake Dal, 14.6 46. 0 15. 0 15. 84 
Department 11090 (G)________-- 7a 24.4 Ee 15.8 40. 1 18. 0 10. 06 
PATIZOMM 2h. (tec ee ee 6. 1 | 5. 0 Pol 28. 8 55. 8 S33) |e eee 
—————————————— ooo | 
MANOEL AG Oates ie he ae 5.3 | 17.2 2. GY 7 47.3 13:8 | soe eee 
On the Pima Reservation in Arizona, where it is known as white 
thistle and has been almost exterminated by cattle, and in California, 
where it is known as quail brush, A. lentiformis is a very valuable 
browse plant. In both these regions efforts have been made to en- 
courage its growth on ranches. Once established, it probably would 
take care of itself and spread fairly freely, if it were subjected to 
only a reasonable amount of grazing. In those parts of the south- 
western desert region where it will grow, this species is one of the 
most valuable of the native saltbushes, because of its size, its rapid 
growth, the abundance of the forage which it produces, and par- 
ticularly its palatability to livestock. 
ATRIPLEX LEPTOCARPA F. von Muell. 
Airiplea leptocarpa, another perennial Australian species, which 
grows in western Queensland. New South Wales, and South Aus- 
tralia; resembles the species generally known as Australian saltbush 
(A. semibaccata) in the United States. It forms a mat of vegeta- 
tion, consisting of slender leafy stems that he on the ground. ~The 
South Dakota experiment station (26) reported that “it was valu- 
able for the driest and most alkaline parts of that State. 
The sample analyzed by the South Dakota station contained, on 
an air-dry basis, 7.5 per cent of moisture, and, on a water-free basis, 
16.8 per cent of ash, 2.5 per cent of ether extract, 24.5 per cent of 
