Atriplex subtilis

Subtle orach, Subtle Orach

Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Subtle orach is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley in saline depressions at elevations below 70 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small, white-scaly leaves with delicate flowers. Growing with slender, spreading branches 30 centimeters tall, its stems are reddish and tend to peel. Its leaves are generally opposite, with small ovate-triangular blades 2 to 4 millimeters long covered in white scales. The fruits develop distinctive bracts 2 to 3 millimeters long with irregular teeth and tubercles on both surfaces.

Habitat: Saline depressions

Bloom period: Jun-Oct

Elevation: < 70 m

Bioregions: SnJV.

California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Butte, Madera, Merced, Kern, Stanislaus

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