Herbs, monoecious, erect or ascending, branched from base or rarely simple, 0.5–8 (–100) dm; proximal branches mostly elongated and often prostrate. Leaves alternate, except the proximalmost; petiole 0.5–1.5 (–2) cm; blade green on both sides, ovate to oblong or lanceolate to oblong, deltoid-oblong, or linear, 9–100 × 1–50 mm, base mostly rounded to tapering or more rarely broadly cuneate from a hastate base, margin entire or repand denticulate, apex acute or acuminate or more rarely obtuse, glabrous or nearly so. Flowers glomerate in rather loose, spiciform inflorescences, and in axillary clusters; staminate ones 4–5-merous. Fruiting bracteoles darkening at maturity, sessile or stipitate, ovate or oblong to orbiculate, longest ones strap-shaped or ovatelanceolate, mainly 4–10 mm, distinct nearly to base, margin entire or with (1 or) 2 or more teeth, apex acuminate to acute, often bulging on both sides of the impressed midnerve, at first mealy, finally glabrate. Seeds dimorphic: some small, black (lacking? in var. alaskensis), convex, 1.5–2 mm wide, lustrous, others pale-brown, flat, 1.5–3.5 mm wide; radicle inferior or subascending. 2n = 54.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., N.W.T., Alaska, Calif., Wash.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Atriplex gmelinii var. alaskensis, Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii

Key

1	Brown seeds 1.7-3 mm wide; fruiting bracteoles mostly less than 10 mm; leaf blades mainly oblong to lance-oblong or linear, less commonly hastate-lanceolate	Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii
1	Brown seeds 2.8-3.5 mm wide; fruiting bracteoles often more than 10 mm; leaf blades oblong to lanceolate or hastate-lanceolate or -ovate	Atriplex gmelinii var. alaskensis

"dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.