5a. Margins of fruiting bracts united from 

 base to apex, the apical opening minute; 

 pubescence of simple or branched hairs, 



rounded axillary buds present Grayia 



6a. Shrubs with spinescent branches; fruiting 

 bracts glabrous, not keeled, usually over 



6 mm wide G. spinosa 



6b. Shrubs not spinose; fruiting bracts scurfy, 

 pubescent, keeled at maturity, usually less 



tlian 6 mm wide G. brandegei 



5b. Margins of fruiting bracts only partially united 

 or not united at all; pubescence of inflated 

 hairs or lacking; rounded axillary buds 



lacking Atriplex 



7a. Fruiting bracts normally with four lateral 

 wings; shrubs to 2 meters or occasionally 



more high A. canescens 



7b. Fruiting bracts without lateral wings; 



spinose shrubs or subshrubs normally less 

 than 2 meters high. 



8a. Shrub spinose; staminate flowers yellow; 

 fruiting bracts foliose, united only 

 at the base, with smooth surfaces and 

 entire or nearly entire margins....^, confevtifolia 



8b. Subshrubs, weakly or not spinose; 

 staminate flowers yellow or brov\m; 

 fruiting bracts not foliose, at least 

 one-third united, with surface fre- 

 quently appendaged or margins toothed, 

 sometimes both 9 



38 



