Atriplex coronata var. coronata
Crownscale
(c) Pacific Southwest Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Atriplex coronata var. coronata (Crownscale) is a native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by compressed fruit bracts with tubercles smaller than marginal teeth.
Crownscale is a California native annual herb found in southern Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and eastern Santa Clara River Valley in fine, alkaline soils at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers with pale greenish-white bracts surrounding delicate fruit clusters. Growing with decumbent to ascending branches that spread low across the ground, it forms compact clusters reaching 10 to 30 centimeters wide. Its leaves are variable, typically triangular to diamond-shaped with a grayish-green coloration that helps it blend into alkaline soil environments. The plant's distinctive fruit bracts are slightly compressed, with few tubercles and marginal teeth, creating a subtle, intricate texture characteristic of this salt-tolerant species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; compressed fruit bracts with tubercles smaller than marginal teeth are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Fine, alkaline soils
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Riverside, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Merced, Los Angeles, Tulare, Colusa, Contra Costa, Stanislaus, Alameda, Fresno, Solano, Monterey
Bloom period
Atriplex coronata var. coronata blooms Mar-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Atriplex leaves have bead-like scales; Artemisia leaves are finely divided and aromatic when crushed.; vs Ambrosia: Atriplex has simple scaly leaves; Ambrosia has deeply lobed or divided leaves with coarse hairs.; vs Extriplex: Atriplex has 3-5 calyx lobes on male flowers and two seed colors; Extriplex has exactly 4 lobes and uniform dark seeds.; vs Chenopodium: Atriplex has bead-like bladder hairs and paired fruit bracts; Chenopodium has mealy powder and calyx-enclosed fruits.; vs Eriogonum: Atriplex has scaly leaves and paired fruit bracts; Eriogonum has smooth leaves and papery flower tubes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Atriplex coronata var. coronata native to California?
Yes. Atriplex coronata var. coronata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex coronata var. coronata bloom?
Atriplex coronata var. coronata blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Atriplex coronata var. coronata grow?
Atriplex coronata var. coronata occurs in Riverside, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Merced, Los Angeles, Tulare, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Atriplex coronata var. coronata belong to?
Atriplex coronata var. coronata is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
Is Atriplex coronata var. coronata rare or endangered?
Atriplex coronata var. coronata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.