Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
four-wing salt brush
Family Name:
Amaranthaceae
Botanical Name:
Atriplex canescens
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Botanical characteristics of four wing salt bush is difficult as the plant hybridizes readily and also has some plasticity in expression of characteristics within a single plant (based on ploidy count). It tends to be long lived, woody, semi-evergreen, erect and rounded, informal shrub usually growing 1m high and wide but can reach 2.5m tall. Rigid and brittle stems are densely covered in silvery pubescence as are the 2-5cm long narrow leaves. Trichomes of mature leaves accumulate salt on leaf surfaces. Leaves may be evergreen, or winter-deciduous in cold climates. This (mostly) dioecious wind-pollinated plant has tiny spikes of staminate flowers and pistillate flowers arranged on larger 5-40cm panicles. Flowers bloom in early summer and fruits develop by July. Fruits are 0.3-0.4cm long with 0.4-1.0cm square bracts (thus, the common name “four winged” salt bush. Seeds are orthodox and known to sprout after 10-20 years of storage and very likely, survive in soil seed banks.
Compound:
atr can
Geographic Origin:
Western US, Northern Mexico
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Desert
Natural History:
Fourwing saltbush is the most widely distributed native woody species in North America (1). It extends north-south from southern Alberta to central Mexico and east-west from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast (2) occurring at elevations below sea level to 2,600m (most commonly occurring at 1,400 – 1,800m (3). It is also grown in cultivation as an ornamental plant in temperate regions of North America and may naturalize. It is classified as hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
Cultivation Notes:
Both physical and physiological seed dormancy is common so both scarification and stratification are required for germination (4). When these seed treatments are accomplished, with warm temperatures (16-18C) and adequate moisture for imbibition, germination will occur 7-21 days after sowing seeds. Seed can also undergo a period of after-ripening for 10 months. After removing the wings from the seed, they can be planted ½” deep in fine soil or ¾” deep if direct sowing outdoors in coarse or gravelly soils (6). Given the genetic variability of the species, there is a variable tendency for asexual propagation, especially basal branch sprouts but rarely by layering or rhizomes (5).
Ethnobotany:
This species has many practical uses ranging from biological control of insects, erosion control, restoration of disturbed lands and livestock and human food source (8). Native Americans ground the seed for flower (1), they also used the leaves placed on coals to give a salty flavor to roasted food (7). The new growth produces a yellow dye used for textiles, and even the ashes of burned branches were added to blue corn dough to make green bread (9) The roots and flowers were ground to soothe insect bites, while other tribes used the root to treat coughs and toothaches. The plant is also commonly used in cultivation as a landscape ornamental (1). As such, there are a number of improved cultivars available including ‘Marana’, ‘Rincon’, ‘Santa Rita’ and ‘Wytana’ (6).
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Green
Function:
Habitat
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
- Kartesz, John Thomas. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Reno, NV: University of Nevada. 1729 p. [In 3 volumes]. Dissertation. [42426]
- Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 730 p. [1168]
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/atrcan/all.html#108 Accessed July 3, 2023
- Stutz, Howard C.; Pope, C. Lorenzo; Leslie, Thomas. 1975. Germination studies in Atriplex. In: Stutz, Howard C., ed. Wildland Shrubs: Proceedings-- symposium and workshop: 1975 November 5-7; Provo, UT. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University: 150. [2289]
- Barrow, Jerry R. 1997. Natural asexual reproduction in fourwing saltbrush Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. Journal of Arid Environments. 36(2): 267-270. [42451]
- https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_atca2.pdf accessed July 3, 2023
- Vestal, Paul A. 1952. Ethnobotany of the Ramah Navaho. Reports of the Ramah Project: No. 4. Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archeology and Ethnology: 40(4). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. 94 p. [37064]
- https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_atca2.pdf Accessed July 3, 2023
- Castetter, Edward F. 1935. Ethnobiological studies in the American Southwest. Biological Series No. 4: Volume 1. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico. 62 p. [35938]
