INTRODUCTION 



Shrubby chenopods, commonly referred to as saltbushes, cover millions of hectares 

 on the world's alkaline ranges. They are important on the arid deserts of northern 

 America, interior Australia, Africa, and Eurasia. These shrubs are of special signifi- 

 cance in the Great Basin and Colorado River Drainage where as a group they are often the 

 dominant vegetation below 1,677 meters (5,500 feet) (Branson 1966). 



On ranges where they occur, they are important producers of nutritious forage for 

 game and domestic animals. More importantly, their presence is essential for maintain- 

 ing a stable soil in highly xeric environments where the soil is too, salty and dry for 

 most other classes' of plants to live (Gates and others 1956). This group of shrubs 

 grows well in high concentrations of calcium and potassium salts, and can endure con- 

 siderable sodium; some require it (Gates and others 1956; McNulty 1969; Moore and others 

 1972). Consequently, we must especially look to shrubby chenopods for stabilization of 

 arid and alkaline soils disturbed by oil drilling, mining operations, and road and 

 building construction, as well as for improving vast areas of arid ranges. Most 

 shrubby chenopods supply adequate nutrition that adds greatly to their value in pro- 

 viding habitat for a multitude of animals, including domestic ones (Esplin and others 

 1937; Cook and others 1951; Cook 1972). Chenopods can provide the shrubby components 

 that along with grasses and forbs give a balanced cover and diet (Pluramer and others 

 1968) . 



Shrubby chenopods from different localities and sometimes from the same site vary 

 considerably in palatability, growth rate, forage production, and other characteristics 

 that make them important sources of browse and cover. Some should have an important 

 place in stabilization of disturbed areas on alkaline ranges. Natural hybridization has 

 been observed between species of the same genus and even between different genera. 



The purpose of this paper is to document what is known about important chenopod 

 shrubs in the Intermountain area, with regard to their vegetative and floral charac- 

 teristics, hybridization, distribution and habitat, and use. Most of the observational 

 information and experimental data were gathered from the Intermountain area (Holmgren 

 and Reveal 1966), particularly from Utah. Holmgren and Reveal's Intermountain area 

 "includes all of Utah, that portion of Arizona north of the Grand Canyon, most of 

 Nevada, parts of California that lie within the Great Basin, the sagebrush areas of 

 southeastern Oregon, southern Idaho to the high mountainous areas to the north, and 

 the Red Desert area of southwestern Wyoming." However, reference to and comments on 

 species distribution and characteristics outside this area are made when pertinent. 

 This is done to provide a basis for extended use and improvement of this group by 

 selection and hybridization. Since Utah is centrally located in the distribution of 

 this family, observations are fairly characteristic of west-central North America. 



Each species, its hybridization, distribution and habitat, and use are described 

 in detail. Each genus and its included species are arranged in alphabetical order. 

 A key (appendix) is given for the included genera and species. This paper is the sec- 

 ond in a series on Intermountain shrub species; the first is Blauer and others (1975). 



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