Atriplex argentea (Silvery Saltbush) - photos and description
Bracteoles obovate
General: Much branched annual having stems that are angled. Foliage silver in colour.
Flowers: Flowers in glomerules in leaf axils. Bracteoles rotund to obovate, with toothed margins and numerous tubercles. We measured a bracteole at 6 mm diameter.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, lower leaves petiolate, upper leaves sessile. We measured a leaf at 18 mm long by 16 mm wide. Leaves silvery, hastate, bottoms scurfy, otherwise foliage is glabrous.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 80 cm, we measured plants to only 8 cm tall.
Habitat: Dry plains and saline flats, southern prairies
Abundance: Listed as common by the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre (although I've only seen it in Grasslands Park).
Origin: Native.
When and where photographed: Photos taken July 27th, grassland in Frenchman River Valley, West Block Grasslands National Park, about 400 km southwest of our home Regina, SK.