About Atriplex confertifolia (Torr. & Frém.) S.Watson
Atriplex confertifolia, commonly called shadscale, grows between 1 and 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91 meters) tall. Its fruits and leaves are an important source of winter browse for both domestic livestock and native herbivores. When compared to fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shadscale has shorter and wider leaves, and its fruit does not have four wings – though it may develop two wings arranged in a V shape. This species flowers from March through June. Maximum osmotic pressure reported for Atriplex confertifolia is approximately 202.5 atmospheres. Shadscale is a common, often dominant, shrub found in the lowest, driest regions of the Great Basin. It prefers sandy, well-drained soils and can tolerate moderately saline conditions. It grows in habitats including alkaline desert valleys, hillsides, and bluffs.
