General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, branched, 0.2-1.2 m tall.

Leaves:
Lower leaves opposite, upper leaves alternate, stalked or stalkless, oblong-lanceolate, smooth or slightly toothed, covered with a whitish-mealy substance below, green above.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of terminal or axillary spikes or panicles; pistillate bracteoles of 2 sizes, largest bracteoles egg-shaped or egg-shaped-triangular, up to 13 mm long, enclosing a 3 mm wide yellow-brown fruit, the smaller bracteoles enclosing a black fruit 1.5 mm wide, all bracteoles with margins free to the base and lateral teeth lacking.

Fruits:
Membranous pericarps; seeds erect, 1-2 mm long.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

"The genus Atriplex, commonly called orache, atriplex or saltbush, of the family Chenopodiaceae (the goosefoot family), comprises nearly 200 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. Most of the species are halophytes of coastal or inland saline habitats; a few are widespread ruderals of disturbed ground." (Bassett et al. 1983). References Bassett, I. J., C. W. Crompton, J. McNeill and P. M. Taschereau. 1983. The genus Atriplex (Chenopodiaceae) in Canada. Monograph #31, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa.