Atriplex gardneri var. falcata
Falcate saltbush, Falcate Saltbush
(c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Atriplex gardneri var. falcata (Falcate saltbush) is a native California shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by geographic isolation in northeastern CA plus distinctive tapered fruit bracts.
Falcate saltbush is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native shrub found in the Modoc Plateau in open, alkaline soils of sagebrush and chenopod scrub at elevations of 1,200 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers with grayish-green bracts. Growing as a decumbent to erect subshrub 10 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops several to many stems from the base with a distinctive gray, scaly appearance. Its leaves are oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, 15 to 45 millimeters long, covered in dense gray scales and displaying a distinctive grayish-green coloration. The plant produces small, fusiform fruit bracts 4 to 8 millimeters long with entire to slightly dentate margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; geographic isolation in northeastern CA plus distinctive tapered fruit bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, generally alkaline soils, sagebrush scrub, chenopod scrub
Elevation: 1200-1700 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming
Bloom period
Atriplex gardneri var. falcata blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 gardneri var. falcata native to California?
Yes. Atriplex gardneri var. falcata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex gardneri var. falcata bloom?
Atriplex gardneri var. falcata blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Atriplex gardneri var. falcata belong to?
Atriplex gardneri var. falcata is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
Is Atriplex gardneri var. falcata rare or endangered?
Atriplex gardneri var. falcata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2S3.
What habitat does Atriplex gardneri var. falcata grow in?
Atriplex gardneri var. falcata grows in Open, generally alkaline soils, sagebrush scrub, chenopod scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.