Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Atriplex phyllostegia is a species of saltbush known by the common names arrowscale, leafcover saltweed, and Truckee orach. It is native to the western United States from California to Utah, where it grows in meadow bottoms and areas with saline soils such as dry or ephemeral lakes. This is an annual herb with a mainly erect branching green stem growing up to 40 centimeters tall. The distinctive leaves are fleshy and diamond or arrowhead-shaped and 1 to 4 centimeters long. The plant is generally monoecious, although some individuals bear only female flowers. Male and female flowers appear in the leaf axils, and the male flowers are sometimes borne in spikelike flower clusters. The female flower clusters are enclosed in leafeoles which may be up to 2 centimeters long and resemble the leaves.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

4 - 16 in Tall

Sun

Full Sun

Site type

Saline meadows, flats

Plant communities

Alkali Sink, Creosote Bush Scrub, Wetland-Riparian

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 9 likely

Confirmed Likely

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica

Western Pygmy Blue

Brephidium exilis

Chionodes kincaidella

Saltbush Sootywing

Hesperopsis alpheus