Atriplex polycarpa has a bioregional distribution that includes California {San Joaquin Valley and margins, northern Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, southeast of Sierra Nevada; the range also includes a desert distribution east to Utah and south to northern Mexico. Elevation of occurrence is less than 1500 meters. Typical locations where this plant is found include dry lakebeds and alkali flats.

Known by a common name of Cattle saltbush, this shrub with densely gray-scaly stems is genrerally erect and attains a height from one half to two meters. The spreading to ascending branches terminate in slender twigs slender, becoming more or less spine-like. Leaves are generally subsessile with blades three to 25 millimeters in length, oblong to narrowly oblanceolate.

Atriplex polycarpa (Torr.) S. Watson:
United States (North America)

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Shrubs, dioecious or sub-monoecious, mainly 10-20 dm. Leaves tardily deciduous, alternate, sessile or nearly so; blade spatulate to obovate or oblong, 3-15(-2.) × 2-4 mm, margin entire, apex typically acute. Staminate flowers appearing silvery, in clusters 1.5-3 mm wide, borne in paniculate, naked spikes 5-25 cm; anthers yellow. Pistillate flowers with fruiting bracteoles sessile, cuneate-orbicular to semicircular, 1.5-2.5 × 2-3 mm, united to near middle, margin deeply laciniate-dentate, tuberculate or sometimes smooth dorsally. Seeds pale brown, 1-1.5 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Atriplex polycarpa consists of two or more chromosomal races based on different polyploid levels. The races form hybrids with Atriplex canescens in south California, resulting in partially stabilized entities known as varieties laciniata and macilenta. The plants evidently form hybrids with A. lentiformis.

Obione polycarpa Torrey in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 130. 1857; Atriplex curvidens Brandegee

Flowering spring-fall. Warm desert shrub communities (creosote bush, ambrosia, shadscale, mesquite, saltgrass, etc.), mainly in fine-textured saline substrates; 60-1500 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah; n Mexico (Baja California to Sonora).

Atriplex polycarpa (gall tissue (Atriplex polycarpa)) is prey of:
Torymus capillaceus capillaceus
Rileya tegularis
Galeopsomyia
Tetrastichus cecidobroter
Gelechiidae
Tricorynus
Acaridae
Gracilariidae
Ophiomyia atriplicis
Asphondylia
Nesolasioptera willistoni

Based on studies in:
USA: California, Southern California (Galls, Plant substrate)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked