Small shrub to 1 m (3 ft) tall, with numerous erect paniculate tomentose branches often giving a moundlike appearance. Leaves alternate, numerous, linear, terete, sharp-pointed, 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long but becoming reduced on the upper part of the stem. Flowers small, numerous, clustered in the leaf axils, with densely pubescent calyx lobes.
Distribution: Native to western Oklahoma west to southern California and south to northern Mexico.
Habitat: Saline or alkaline soils of grasslands.
NWI status: none
Comment: Suaeda is derived from the Arabic name for a related plant; suffrutescens refers to its shrub growth-form.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/20/99
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