Atriplex spinifera
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{One source|date=June 2025}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=June 2025}}
}}
{{Speciesbox
|image =
|genus = Atriplex
|species = spinifera
|authority = J.F.Macbr.
| status = G3
| status_system = TNC
}}
Atriplex spinifera is a species of saltbush, known by the common names spiny saltbush and spinescale saltbush.
It is endemic to California, where it grows in dry habitat with saline soils, such as salt flats. Its distribution includes the Mojave Desert, the southern Transverse Ranges, and the Central Valley, and surrounding mountain ranges. It is a halophyte.
Description
Atriplex spinifera is a grayish or whitish brambly shrub with erect branching stems growing to a maximum height near 2 meters. The tangled branches are stiff and tipped with spiny points. The leaves are oval in shape and less than 3 centimeters in length.
The shrub is dioecious, with male and female individuals. The male flowers are small clusters in the leaf axils. The female flowers are solitary or borne in small clusters, and are enclosed in scaly bracts which become spherical as the fruit grows within.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3089,3135 Jepson Manual Treatment — Atriplex spinifera]
- [https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ATSP USDA Plants Profile: Atriplex spinifera]
- [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415597 Flora of North America]
- [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Atriplex+spinifera Atriplex spinifera — U.C. Photo gallery]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4817605}}
Category:Endemic flora of California
Category:Flora of the California desert regions
Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
Category:Natural history of the Central Valley (California)
Category:Natural history of the Mojave Desert
Category:Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains
Category:Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
Category:San Gabriel Mountains
Category:Plants described in 1918
Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Amaranthaceae-stub}}