Atriplex micrantha
Russian atriplex, Russian Atriplex
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Atriplex micrantha (Russian atriplex) is a non-native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by tall annual, stiff branches, two sizes of fruit bracts, lacks net veining.
Russian atriplex is a naturalized annual plant found in the Klamath Ranges, California Roaded Forests, Central Valley, Western Transverse Ranges, and Great Basin (excluding White and Inyo Mountains) in open, disturbed places at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces green flowers with distinctive triangular to lanceolate leaves that vary in size. Growing with stiff, ascending branches 50 to 150 centimeters tall, it has a green striate stem with sparse scales. Its leaves range from 10 to 65 millimeters long, with proximal leaves opposite and distal leaves alternate, featuring entire to irregularly wavy-dentate edges and a hastate or tapering base. The plant produces two kinds of seeds: small spheric black seeds 1 to 1.5 millimeters long and larger flattened yellow-brown seeds 2 to 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; tall annual, stiff branches, two sizes of fruit bracts, lacks net veining
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, generally disturbed places
Elevation: < 2000 m
Outside California: to eastern United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Atriplex micrantha blooms May-Oct.
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 micrantha native to California?
No. Atriplex micrantha is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Atriplex micrantha bloom?
Atriplex micrantha blooms May-Oct.
What plant family does Atriplex micrantha belong to?
Atriplex micrantha is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex micrantha grow in?
Atriplex micrantha grows in Open, generally disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.