Atriplex cordulata is a species of saltbush known by the common names heartscale and heart-leaf orache. It is endemic to the Central Valley and its San Joaquin Valley of California, where it grows in areas of saline and alkaline soils.[2][3]

Atriplex cordulata

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Atriplex
Species:
A. cordulata
Binomial name
Atriplex cordulata

Description edit

Heart-leaf orache is an annual herb producing one or more erect stems to heights between 10 and 50 centimeters. The branches are scaly gray and have woolly fibers toward the ends. The gray scaly leaves are no bigger than 1.5 centimeters long and most have heart-shaped bases.[2]

The plant has male and female inflorescences which are small hard clusters of flowers. The reddish brown seeds are about 2 millimeters wide. It can be found at elevations up to 375 meters above sea level and blooms between April and October.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "USDA Plants Database".
  2. ^ a b http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3089,3099 Jepson
  3. ^ http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ATCO2 USDA
  4. ^ California Native Plant Society's inventory of rare and endangered plants of California. David P. Tibor, Linda Ann Vorobik, California Native Plant Society. Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee (Sixth edition, entirely revised and updated ed.). [Sacramento, CA]. 2001. ISBN 0-943460-40-9. OCLC 48089025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)

External links edit