Atriplex elegans var. elegans
Wheelscale saltbush
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Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Atriplex elegans var. elegans (Wheelscale saltbush) is a native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by round compressed fruit bracts with deeply dentate margins distinguish from var. fasciculata.
Wheelscale saltbush is a California native annual found in eastern desert regions in saline creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers with pale green to whitish bracts. Growing with branching stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a delicate, spreading structure across sandy or alkaline soils. Its leaves are entire to irregularly toothed, with blades that range from smooth-edged to having subtle, shallow indentations. The fruit bracts are distinctively shaped, with teeth 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide that create a finely sculpted margin.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; round compressed fruit bracts with deeply dentate margins distinguish from var. fasciculata
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- saline creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Atriplex elegans var. elegans blooms Apr-May.
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 var. elegans native to California?
Yes. Atriplex elegans var. elegans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex elegans var. elegans bloom?
Atriplex elegans var. elegans blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Atriplex elegans var. elegans grow?
Atriplex elegans var. elegans occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Atriplex elegans var. elegans belong to?
Atriplex elegans var. elegans is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex elegans var. elegans grow in?
Atriplex elegans var. elegans grows in +- saline creosote-bush scrub.
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.