Atriplex canescens var. canescens Nutt.
Viridiplantae > Streptophyta > Streptophytina > Embryophyta > Tracheophyta > Euphyllophyta > Spermatophyta > Magnoliopsida > Mesangiospermae > eudicotyledons > Gunneridae > Pentapetalae > Caryophyllales > Chenopodiaceae > Atriplex > canescens var. canescens [1]
![Flowering Atriplex canescens var. canescens in Red Rock Canyon, southern Nevada. Photo by Stan Shebs [2].](/crfs/images/native-plants/plant-directory/fourwingsaltbush-first.jpg)
Flowering Atriplex canescens var. canescens in Red Rock Canyon, southern Nevada. Photo by Stan Shebs [2].
Shrubs, dioecious (having either male or female flowers on a single plant), mainly 8-20 dm tall, not especially armed, not or seldom layering. Leaves persistent, alternate, and sessile (or nearly so); 10-40 mm long and 2-8 mm wide, linear-oblanceolate and oblong or obovate with entire margins, apex retuse to obtuse [3]. Staminate flowers (male) yellow, in clusters 2-3 mm wide on panicles; pistillate (female) flowers borne in panicles 5-40 cm long, pedicels (flower stalks) 1-8 mm long, fruiting bracts 9-25 mm wide and about as long, with 4 prominent wings extending the bract length, united throughout, the surface of the wings and body smooth or reticulate, the wings dentate to entire, the apex toothed; seeds 1.5-2.5 mm wide [3].
![Entire plant in Red Rock Canyon, southern Nevada. Photo by Stan Shebs. [5]](/crfs/images/native-plants/plant-directory/fourwingsaltbush-sec.jpg)
Entire plant in Red Rock Canyon, southern Nevada. Photo by Stan Shebs. [5]
The common name can give us a hint into how you can identify this plant. They have four pronounced wing-like leaves that extend the bract length when in fruit [3]. Identifying Fourwing Saltbush by its flower can be some trouble. This species is polymorphic and can be found in many different forms. It is common to find plants with either male or female flowers, but it can be found with both gendered flowers on a single plant, and it can be found with flowers that have both male and female parts (see fun facts). It is helpful to know that male flowers tend to be yellow to red and are a bit easier to notice. They form spikes at the ends of the branches, whereas female flowers are axillary (within the nodes of the branches) and less conspicuous. The seed is called an utricle and it fades to a dull yellow when it is ripe. It is common for the seed to persist and remain attached through winter [4].mnar in shape.
This plant can form hybrids with Atriplex confertifolia and Atriplex gardneri, including its numerous varieties, which results in the species Atriplex bonnevillensis [3]. However, there can be great disagreement about whether they recognize these morphologically diverse yet related progeny of such hybridization events as their own varieties or species, resulting in a large group of taxonomic entities botanists call the gardneri species complex.
![Atriplex canescens plant covered in fruit [6].](/crfs/images/native-plants/plant-directory/fourwingsaltbush-identificationimg1.jpg)
Atriplex canescens plant covered in fruit [6].
![A closer look at the distinct 4-winged fruit of Atriplex canescens [7].](/crfs/images/native-plants/plant-directory/fourwingsaltbush-identificationimg2.jpg)
A closer look at the distinct 4-winged fruit of Atriplex canescens [7].
![Male flower of Fourwing Saltbush, Photo by Patrick Alexander [8].](/crfs/images/native-plants/plant-directory/fourwingsaltbush-third.jpg)
Male flower of Fourwing Saltbush, Photo by Patrick Alexander [8].
In modern times, the Fourwing Saltbush is an important native browsing plant for wildlife and domestic livestock, and is also used in reclamation projects [3]. However, Atriplex canescens has a large distribution and many different indigenous tribes found creative ways to use the plant. The Zuni tribes of New Mexico have used Atriplex canescens to help with stomach aches and ant bites. The flowers were made into a poultice that was applied to the affected skin and would aid in calming bite irritation. It’s suggested that the high concentration of saponins (chemical with foaming, soap-like properties) provides this relief [9]. Digueno [10] and Havasupai [11] tribes used the leaves as a soap to help clean wounds and their hair. Hopi tribes used ashes of the plant as a blue dye [12], and as a substitute for baking soda in their baking [13]. The Isleta tribe used different parts of the plant to make poisonous arrowheads [14].
![Distribution map of Atriplex canescens at a county level [15].](/crfs/images/native-plants/plant-directory/fourwingsaltbush-fourth.jpg)
Distribution map of Atriplex canescens at a county level [15].
The Fourwing Saltbush has been assessed for global distribution and for its distribution in the state of California. Both assessments have concluded with a secure status and the plant considered at risk for endangerment. [4]
The Fourwing Saltbush resides in sandy, commonly non-saline, sites in Joshua tree, blackbrush, greasewood, salt desert shrub, sagebrush, mountain brush and pinyon-juniper communities at 670-2380 m [3].
[1] Schoch CL, et al. NCBI Taxonomy: a comprehensive update on curation, resources and tools. Database (Oxford). 2020: baaa062. PubMed: 32761142 PMC: PMC7408187.
[2] Photo by Stan Shebs. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atriplex_canescens_var_canescens_4.jpg
[3] Welsh, S. L., Atwood, N. D., Goodrich, S., & Higgins, L. C. (2016). A Utah flora (Third). Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum.
[4] USDA Plants Database, Atriplex canescens Plant guide, downloadable document, Accessed 2024. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/atriplex_canescens.shtml
[5] Photo by Stan Shebs. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atriplex_canescens_var_canescens_1.jpg
[6] Barr, D. (2016). Fourwing Saltbush Atriplex canescens. photograph, San Juan County, UT. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215484705
[7] Hastings, A. (2024). Fourwing Saltbush Atriplex canescens. photograph, Garfield County, UT. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202880355
[8] Photo by Patrick Alexander. https://navajorange-d.nmsu.edu/detail.php?id=44
[9] Camazine, S., & Bye, R. A. (1980). A study of the medical ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians of New Mexico. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2(4), 365–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(80)81017-8
[10] Hinton, Leanne, 1975, Notes on La Huerta Diegueno Ethnobotany, Journal of California Anthropology 2:214-222, page 217
[11] Weber, Steven A. and P. David Seaman, 1985, Havasupai Habitat: A. F. Whiting's Ethnography of a Traditional Indian Culture, Tucson. The University of Arizona Press, page 217
[12] Whiting, Alfred F., 1939, Ethnobotany of the Hopi, Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin #15, page 73
[13] Vestal, Paul A, 1940, Notes on a Collection of Plants from the Hopi Indian Region of Arizona Made by J. G. Owens in 1891, Botanical Museum Leaflets (Harvard University) 8(8):153-168, page 160
[14] Jones, Volney H., 1931, The Ethnobotany of the Isleta Indians, University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis, page 24
[15] USDA, NRCS. 2022. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 09/28/2022). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA
