Atriplex parishii
Encyclopedia
Atriplex parishii is an uncommon species of saltbush
known by the common names Parish's saltbush and Parish's brittlescale. It is native to central and southern California
where it can occasionally be found along the immediate coastline, and the Channel Islands
. Its distribution extended historically into the western edges of the Mojave Desert
and Baja California
and it may still exist there.
This is a plant of saline and alkaline soils, such as those on dry lake
beds and ephemeral vernal pool
s. There are five varieties of the plant, each growing in a separate and disjunct region of the species' distribution; some varieties are known only from the Central Valley.
This is a small annual herb producing whitish scaly prostrate stems less than 20 centimeters long. The numerous rough whitish leaves are under a centimeter long and oval to somewhat heart-shaped. The flowers, both male and female types, are generally borne in hard clusters.
Atriplex
Atriplex is a plant genus of 100-200 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache . The genus is quite variable and widely distributed. It includes many desert and seashore plants and halophytes, as well as plants of moist environments...
known by the common names Parish's saltbush and Parish's brittlescale. It is native to central and southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where it can occasionally be found along the immediate coastline, and the Channel Islands
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
. Its distribution extended historically into the western edges of the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
and it may still exist there.
This is a plant of saline and alkaline soils, such as those on dry lake
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
beds and ephemeral vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s. There are five varieties of the plant, each growing in a separate and disjunct region of the species' distribution; some varieties are known only from the Central Valley.
This is a small annual herb producing whitish scaly prostrate stems less than 20 centimeters long. The numerous rough whitish leaves are under a centimeter long and oval to somewhat heart-shaped. The flowers, both male and female types, are generally borne in hard clusters.