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Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)

General: Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia), or simply Shadscale, generally is a rounded shrub with gray-green glandular stems and leaves. Twigs are stiff and tipped with a spine. The seeds have two wings.

Shadscale often is a common or dominant component of shrubs communities on alkaline and saline soils (e.g., playa bottoms) in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone. When dominant, this species forms the basis for the Shadscale Scrub vegetation type.

Around Las Vegas, look for this habitat type along Corn Creek Road in Desert National Wildlife Refuge, and Basin and Range National Monument.

Family: Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae).

Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale in typical playa habitat
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale in typical playa habitat
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale in typical playa habitat
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale in typical playa habitat
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale in typical playa habitat
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale: not always in typical playa habitat
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Leaves round
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Leaves round
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Leaves round
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Leaves round
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Stems and leaves with fluffy hairs
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Stiff, spiny twigs
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Stems and leaves with fluffy hairs
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Stems and leaves with fluffy hairs
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia) Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Main stems with furrowed bark
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Small leaves towards twig tips
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush flowers
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush flowers
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush flowers
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush flowers
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush flowers
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush flowers
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia) Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale developing fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale developing fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale developing fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale developing fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale developing fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale dried fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale dried fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale dried fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale dried fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Shadscale dried fruits
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Dried Shadscale fruits with two wings
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Dried Shadscale fruits with two wings
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Ripe Shadscale fruits on the stem with two wings
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Ripe Shadscale fruits with two wings
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Ripe Shadscale fruits with two wings
Shadscale Saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia)
Ripe Shadscale fruits with two wings

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 220726

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