Basin saltbush remnant trying to flower (August)

Descrission:

Atriplex gardneri var. utahensis. Synonyms include A. tridentata, A. gardneri var. tridentata and A. nuttallii var. utahensis.There are only a few remaining plants on what was hoped to be city park property but it appears to instead exist on some rare adjoining open space on private property. Once common in a now populated area where more typically all native plants have been removed. And, this low shrub is being routinely mowed and while that may have helped to keep some invasives at bay, it is also preventing this plant from re-establishing itself. So that is why here after several mowing and perhaps a short reprieve, the plant is trying to again produce flowers and is getting close but will probably be mowed again before it gets the chance.August 13, 2011, small parcel of open space adjoining Murray City Park, Murray City, Salt Lake County, Utah at approx. 4300 ft.