Atriplex elegans
Wheelscale
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Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Atriplex elegans (Wheelscale) is a native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Wheelscale is a California native annual herb found in desert and interior regions in open, dry habitats. Flowering from summer to fall, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers nestled among densely white-scaled leaves. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with decumbent to ascending branched stems that become smooth with age, it develops a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves are elliptic to oblanceolate, 3 to 25 millimeters long, with white scales covering the undersides and edges ranging from entire to irregularly toothed. The plant's distinctive fruit bracts are round and compressed, fused near the tip and measuring 2 to 4 millimeters across.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego
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 elegans native to California?
Yes. Atriplex elegans is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Atriplex elegans grow?
Atriplex elegans occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego.
What plant family does Atriplex elegans belong to?
Atriplex elegans is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.