{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Atriplex confertifolia (7295105030).jpg |status = {{TNCStatus}} |status_system = TNC |genus = Atriplex |species = confertifolia |authority = Torr. & Frém. |synonyms_ref = <ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2665172 The Plant List, ''Atriplex confertifolia'' (Torr. & Frém.) S.Watson ]</ref> |synonyms = *''Atriplex collina'' <small>Wooton & Standl.</small> *''Atriplex jonesii'' St<small>andl.</small> *''Atriplex sabulosa'' <small>M.E.Jones 1903 not Rouy 1890</small><ref>[http://www.tropicos.org/NameSearch.aspx?name=Atriplex+sabulosa&commonname= Tropicos search for ''Atriplex sabulosa'']</ref> *''Atriplex subconferta'' <small>Rydb.</small> *''Obione confertifolia'' <small>Torr. & Frém.</small> *''Obione rigida'' <small>Torr. & Frém.</small> }}
'''''Atriplex confertifolia''''', the '''shadscale''' or '''spiny saltbush''',<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=970 | title = ''Atriplex confertifolia'' | publisher = Calflora | access-date = 22 February 2022}}</ref> is a species of evergreen shrub in the family Amaranthaceae, which is native to the western United States and northern Mexico.<ref>[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Atriplex%20confertifolia.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map]</ref><ref>CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, México D.F.</ref>
==Description== The height of ''Atriplex confertifolia'' varies from {{convert|1|-|3|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Shadscale fruits and leaves provide important winter browse for domestic livestock and native herbivores. Compared to fourwing saltbush (''Atriplex canescens''), shadscale has shorter and wider leaves and the fruit does not have four wings (although it may have two wings in a "V" shape).<ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415596 Flora of North America ''Atriplex confertifolia'']</ref>
This species blooms from March to June.
Maximum osmotic pressure has been reported in Atriplex conf. where it is about 202.5 atm.
==Distribution and habitat== Shadscale is a common, often dominant, shrub in the lowest and driest areas of the Great Basin. It prefers sandy, well-drained soils and it is tolerant of moderately saline conditions. Its habitats include alkaline desert valleys, hillsides, and bluffs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin|url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=atco|access-date=|website=www.wildflower.org}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ATCO USDA Plants Profile for ''Atriplex confertifolia'' (shadscale)] *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=15195 Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of ''Atriplex confertifolia''] *[http://www.tropicos.org/ImageFullView.aspx?imageid=27812 Missouri Botanical Garden: photo of herbarium isotype specimen of ''Atriplex subconferta'' (synonym of ''A. confertifolia'')] — ''collected in Wyoming (1911).'' *{{CalPhotos|Atriplex|confertifolia}} {{Commons category|position=left|Atriplex confertifolia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2716742}} {{Authority control}}
confertifolia Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States Category:Flora of the Southwestern United States Category:Flora of the South-Central United States Category:Flora of the California desert regions Category:Flora of the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region Category:Flora of the Great Basin Category:Plants described in 1845 Category:Taxa named by John Torrey Category:Forages Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status