Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Atriplex elegans (Moquin-Tandon) D. Dietrich var. elegans
(Wheel Scale)
Family: Amaranthaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Atriplex elegans (Moquin-Tandon) D. Dietrich var. thornberi Jones
Obione elegans Moquin-Tandon
Atriplex elegans is an annual herb that has leaves that are either entire or coarsely toothed. The leaves are sparsely farinose (scurfy) on the adaxial (upper) surface, and
densely farinose on the abaxial surface. The fruits are winged and have projections. Atriplex elegans resembles Kochia scoparia at a distance in
both size and shape. The unusual fruits of Atriplex elegans are usually densely packed at the ends of stems and rapidly help differentiate the two
plants. Atriplex elegans is found in sandy areas at lower elevation.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Atriplex elegans (with Evan Surek), photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, closeup of distal stems, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, closeup of distal stems, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, adaxial (upper) surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, abaxial (lower) surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, photomicrograph of abaxial leaf surface, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, reflected light photomicrograph of fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
Atriplex elegans, dark field photomicrograph of fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, September 14, 2016
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