Atriplex truncata (Torr. ex S. Watson) A. Gray
wedgescale orache (wedgescale saltbush)
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
(Previously in Chenopodiaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
wedgescale orache (wedgescale saltbush)
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
(Previously in Chenopodiaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect or curved, simple or branched, 25-120 cm tall, greyish-mealy above.
Leaves:
Lower leaves opposite, upper leaves alternate, short-stalked or stalkless, copiously and permanently greyish-mealy, especially on the lower surfaces, greyish-green above, lance-shaped to lance-linear or oblong, 2-7 cm long, squared-off to arrowhead-shaped at the base, smooth to wavy margins but not toothed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of densely compacted axillary spikes or panicles, greenish, tiny, numerous; pistillate bracteoles wedge-shaped to oblong, 2.0-3.5 mm long, entire to undulating, never toothed.
Fruits:
Membranous bladders enclosed by 2 lance-shaped, smooth or wavy-margined bracts; seeds 1.5 mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Atriplex truncata
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
922 | 916 | 928 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
2 | 0 | 5 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
225 | 225 | 225 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
7 | 7 | 7 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
E | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
2 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
IDF(2) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Dry roadsides, waste places and alkaline flats in the steppe and montane zones; infrequent in S BC east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; E to SE SK and S to CO, UT and CA.Status Information
Taxonomic Notes
"The genus Atriplex, commonly called orache, atriplex or saltbush, of the family Chenopodiaceae (the goosefoot family), comprises nearly 200 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. Most of the species are halophytes of coastal or inland saline habitats; a few are widespread ruderals of disturbed ground." (Bassett et al. 1983).
References Bassett, I. J., C. W. Crompton, J. McNeill and P. M. Taschereau. 1983. The genus Atriplex (Chenopodiaceae) in Canada. Monograph #31, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. |