Atriplex minuscula

Lesser saltscale

Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Lesser saltscale is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley in sandy, alkaline soils at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces white-scaled leaves with delicate flowers. Growing with multiple ascending stems to 40 centimeters tall, the plant has distinctive reddish, brittle branches that spread and peel. Its alternate leaves are small, 4 to 10 millimeters long, with ovate to heart-shaped blades covered in white scales. The tiny seeds are reddish-brown and approximately 1 millimeter in size.

Habitat: Sandy, alkaline soils

Bloom period: Apr-Oct

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: SnJV.

California counties: Tulare, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Butte, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Alameda, Contra Costa

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.