Atriplex Pusilla (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Atriplex pusilla is a species of saltbush known by the common names smooth saltbush and dwarf orach. It is native to the Northwestern United States from California to Idaho, where it grows in saline and alkaline soils, such as those near hot springs and ephemeral ponds.This is a small annual herb producing a stiff, branching, reddish-green stem which approaches 30 centimeters in maximum height. The thick, fleshy leaves are rounded in shape and less than 2 centimeters long. The tiny flowers are borne in pairs or singly.Over long periods of time, as soil minerals weather and release salts, these salts are flushed or leached out of the soil by drainage water in areas with sufficient precipitation. In addition to mineral weathering, salts are also deposited via dust and precipitation. In dry regions salts may accumulate, leading to naturally saline soils.