Atriplex L.

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Amaranthaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Atriplex L.

  • Description

    Genus Description - Monoecious; staminate fls with 3–5 sep and as many stamens; pistillate fls all or mostly enclosed individually by 2 broad bracteoles, without perianth except in no. 2 [Atriplex arenaria Nutt.]; ovary wall very thin; styles 2, filiform; embryo annular, the radicle variously inferior (near the base, and directed downward or horizontally) to median (lateral, directed upwards) or superior (near the summit, and directed upwards); annual (incl. all our spp.) or perennial herbs or shrubs; fls minute, sessile or short-pedicellate in glomerules or borne singly in the axils or in terminal spikes or panicles; lvs usually opposite below and alternate above, ± mealy at least when young, sometimes later green and glabrate. Spp. 3–6 form a morphologically confluent, mostly self-pollinated polyploid series, whose members are sharply distinct at some but not all points of contact. 100+, widespread.