Small shrub to 70 cm (2.3 ft) tall, much-branched, compact and rounded. Branches rigid, sharply spinose. Primary leaves alternate, variously shaped, early-deciduous, 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long and 8-12 mm (0.3-0.5 in) wide, scurfy, gray-green. Axillary bud leaves 1-12 mm (0.04-0.5 in) long and 1-7 mm (0.04-0.3 in) wide, persistent. Staminate flowers numerous, small, sessile in dense axillary glomerules or short leafy terminal spikes. Pistillate flowers fewer, larger, in axillary glomerules or subpaniculate spikes, flowering and fruiting in Summer.
Distribution: Native to much of the western U. S. and northern Mexico.
Habitat: Usually on alkaline soils of valleys and slopes.
NWI status: none
Comment: Atriplex is the ancient classical name for the genus; confertifolia refers to the crowded leaves.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 10/12/98
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