This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology,
and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available [56,57,119,123].
Big saltbush is a large, perennial, native shrub. It typically grows to
between 3.3 and 8.2 feet (1-2.5 m) tall, but can reach 9.8 feet (3 m)
[8,57,79,90,119]. Plants are wide spreading
[25,113]. Individuals approximately 6.6 feet (2 m) tall were reported to
cover areas ranging from 5.6 m² to 7.8 m² [5],
and some plants reach coverages of up to 10 m² [79].
Big saltbush is typically evergreen, but can be
drought deciduous in some desert environments [25,28,113,119]. The numerous
leaves of big saltbush are somewhat thick, about 0.4 to 2 inches (1-5 cm) long,
0.25 to 1.5 inches (0.3-4 cm) wide, and covered in fine scales [8,25,113,119]. Big
saltbush branches are numerous and slender. The bark is typically covered in
fine scales when young and becomes rough on old trunks [113]. The small, imperfect flowers occur in
panicles [25,74,119]. The fruits are utricles with bracts typically 0.1 to 0.15 inch (3-4 mm) long and wide, which
contain a seed 0.04 to 0.06 inch (1-1.5 mm) wide [8,69,119].
Quailbush is used as a hedge plant in coastal
California [96,113].
Traditional Uses:
Castetter's [21] literature review of studies on tribes of
the American southwest included information regarding the Pima Indians' practice
of pit curing and drying big saltbush seeds before using them to make a thick gruel.
Bean and Saubel [7] report a similar practice among the Chauilla as well as
use of the flour to make small cakes, use of leaves as a soap, and use of flowers,
stems and leaves as a treatment for nasal congestion. Conrad [25] suggests that seeds were
likely used in a similar way to fourwing saltbush. Seeds of fourwing saltbush
were also reportedly ground into flour. Other uses for fourwing saltbush that
may have been similar for big saltbush are the use of the ground meal as an
emetic, use of ground flowers or roots moistened with saliva in treating ant
bites, and addition of ashes to water for dyeing meal greenish-blue [25].
Big saltbush reproduces by seed [25,79].
Breeding system: Big saltbush
can be either monoecious or dioecious [113,119,123]. In plantings done to
determine potential of big saltbush as a forage crop the sex ratio was 60% male
plants, 10% female plants, and 30% monoecious plants [117]. In their 1984
article, Freeman and others [35] included data from previous research
demonstrating change of sex in big saltbush. Plants typically change from
dioecious to monoecious, but can also change from female to male. The ability to
change sex appeared to enhance survival and may provide a reproductive advantage
to the population. The table below shows the number of individuals from a wild
population of 70 that exhibited each type of change in sex between 1978 and 1983
[35].
High levels of salinity appear to affect seedling development. Jackson and
others [51] reported no effect of salinity on the growth of big saltbush
seedlings at salinity levels of 18,000 mg/L and lower. However at 36,000 mg/L
and 60,000 mg/L, shoot biomass was significantly (p<0.05) less than the
6,000 mg/L and 18,000 mg/L treatments. The total stem growth over 120 days was
also significantly less (p<0.05) at 36,000 mg/L and 60,000 mg/L salinity levels
compared to less saline treatments. The effects of the higher salt
concentrations became larger over time. However, none of these salinity
treatments resulted in seedling mortality [51]. In addition, Malcolm and others
[62] found increased cotyledon width and more rapid formation of true leaves in
delayed salinity treatments, where big saltbush seeds were subject to a period
of low salinity (160 mS/m) before salinities were increased (1900 mS/m).
Although little research has been done addressing the successional status of big
saltbush, it probably occurs in both early
and late successional stages.
In riparian areas, disturbances, typically floods, occur regularly. Johnson and others [52] note that
desert riparian communities that establish
after a disturbance typically have the same species assemblages as before the
disturbance. Species composition is influenced more by site characteristics, such as depth to water
table, than time since last disturbance. The frequency and intensity of
disturbances does affect which species can establish. For instance, consistent
flooding can allow for establishment of species that do not tolerate high
levels of salt [13]. This interaction between disturbance and site characteristics results in a
dynamic mosaic of vegetation types [18]. Whether flooding was recent or occurred some
time ago, big saltbush could occur on a site with appropriate conditions. Whether this trend would be
observed after other types of disturbances, such
as fire, has not been reported. However, Busch [16] was unable to detect
a postfire successional trend in burned cottonwood-willow woodland along the lower Colorado River.
Although healthy riparian forests of the Southwest may not exhibit Clementsian succession, changes
to disturbance regimes have resulted in changes in species composition.
In altered habitats, such as those with decreased water tables, decreased
frequency of flooding, and a resulting increase in fire, tamarisks (Tamarix
spp.) can replace native species over time [17,24], resulting in older sites
being dominated by dense stands of tamarisk [24]. Due to big saltbush being a
"vigorous competitor" on sites where it is already established, these areas may be less likely to
follow this pattern [28].However, the strong response of tamarisks after fire [16] could
negatively affect big saltbush exposed to increased fire
frequencies. For a comprehensive review of tamarisks see the
FEIS Tamarisk review
and Glenn [37].
Few studies have addressed succession in saltbush scrub. Karpiscak [54]
summarizes succession in
saltbush and creosotebush shrublands. Species typical of saltbush or
creosotebush vegetation typically recolonize
abandoned agricultural areas after a series of mostly invasive annuals. Russian-thistle
(Salsola kali) gives way to several mustard species
(Brassicaceae) after two or three years, which is followed by annual grasses.
Goldenbush (Isocoma spp.) and desertbroom (Baccharis sarothroides)
follow, and typically establish just before saltbush or creosotebush species
[54].
The scientific name of big saltbush is Atriplex lentiformis (Torr) S.
Wats. (Chenopodiaceae) [55,57,73,74,119,123]. There are currently 2 recognized subspecies of big saltbush [55,74]:
A. lentiformis subsp. breweri (S. Wats.) Hall & Clements, quailbush
A. lentiformis subsp. lentiformis, big saltbush
Big saltbush may not regularly
hybridize, even though it occurs with several Atriplex species [46].
However, Hanson [46] reports hybrids of quailbush and beach saltbush (A. leucophylla)
and quailbush and Davidson's bractscale (A. serenana var. davidsonii) in the
collections of the California Academy of Sciences.
Atriplex lentiformis (quail bush, big saltbrush, big saltbush, quailbrush, lenscale, len-scale saltbush and white thistle) is a species of saltbush.[2]
Atriplex lentiformis is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in habitats with saline or alkaline soils, such as salt flats and dry lake beds, coastline, and desert scrub. It can also be found in nonsaline soils on riverbanks and woodland.
Atriplex lentiformis is a spreading, communal shrub reaching one to three meters in height and generally more in width. It is highly branched and bears scaly or scurfy gray-green leaves up to 5 centimeters long and often toothed or rippled along the edges. This species may be dioecious or monoecious, with individuals bearing either male or female flowers, or sometimes both. Male flowers are borne in narrow inflorescences up to 50 centimeters long, while inflorescences of female flowers are smaller and more compact. Plants can change from monoecious to dioecious and from male to female and vice versa.[2]
This species blooms in June and July.
This saltbush species, A. lentiformis, and Atriplex canescens are the food plants for the saltbush sootywing Hesperopsis alpheus, a butterfly.[3]
Atriplex lentiformis is used in restoration of riparian habitats, one of the native plants in riparian zone restoration projects in its native ranges.[2]
Atriplex lentiformis grows in the Mesquite Bosque vegetative association with the native Arrowweed - Pluchea sericea, Velvet mesquite - Prosopis velutina, and others in the Lower Colorado River Valley and Gila River valleys of southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, and northwestern Mexico.
The maximum height occurs where a groundwater source supplies plentiful moisture, and saline soil conditions are optimal for the quailbush with other plants losing from the competition. However, the invasive species Tamarisk - Tamarix ramosissima and tumbleweed, Tumbling oracle - Atriplex rosea are successful and problematic competitors. The saltbush can reach 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall and wide in advantageous growing locales, with the form becoming a large flattened hemisphere, with adjacent hemispheres merging into an impenetrable thicket mass.
Atriplex lentiformis (quail bush, big saltbrush, big saltbush, quailbrush, lenscale, len-scale saltbush and white thistle) is a species of saltbush.
