Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata
Mecca orach, Mecca Orach
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Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata (Mecca orach) is a native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by entire leaves and finely dentate fruit bract margins distinguish from var. elegans.
Mecca orach is a California native annual found in southern Owens Valley and the Mojave Desert in saline or alkaline soils, dry lake beds, and desert regions at elevations below 880 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers with delicate pale green to whitish bracts. Growing with slender, branching stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact, spread-out clusters in harsh desert environments. Its leaves are characteristically simple and entire, with blade margins smooth and unlobed, blending seamlessly into the arid landscape. In fruit, the plant develops bracts with extremely fine teeth measuring just 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters wide, a subtle adaptation to its extreme desert habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; entire leaves and finely dentate fruit bract margins distinguish from var. elegans
Habitat and range
Habitat: Saline or alkaline soils, dry lakes
Elevation: < 880 m
California counties: Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, San Diego
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata blooms Mar-Jul.
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. fasciculata native to California?
Yes. Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata bloom?
Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata grow?
Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata occurs in Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, San Diego, at elevations of < 880 m.
What plant family does Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata belong to?
Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata grow in?
Atriplex elegans var. fasciculata grows in Saline or alkaline soils, dry lakes.
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.