Atriplex watsonii

Identification

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Description

Beaches, usually within 100 ft. of the surf, flat gray ground cover, full sun, little water after est., sandy soil. This plant cannot tolerate frost. We'd have to contract grow it if you have a site that needs it. (Note: The Atriplexes from arid environments have a C4 photosynthetic pathway which is generally a more efficient way to make their food, in their climate. They will defoliate under extreme drought. The salt they accumulate in their leaves allows them to extract water from the soil other plants cannot.They need to be under some form of water stress, either drought, salt, or salt spray.(Sharma) The Atriplex species tolerate and remove the excess salts by bladders in their leaves that act as salt sinks, keeping the salt from the plant cells. As the old leaves are shed or eaten the salt is removed from the plant. Atriplex confertiflora can handle 30 ppm Boron in solution.(Most plants burn out at 1-5 ppm.) (Schirmer&Breckle))