Parish's saltbush facts for kids

Atriplex parishii, also called Parish's saltbush or Parish's brittlescale, is a special kind of saltbush. It's not very common to find this plant in the wild.

Discovering Parish's Saltbush

This plant was first described in 1882 by a botanist named S. Watson. It's a small plant that grows for only one year, meaning it completes its whole life cycle from seed to flower to seed in a single season.

Where Does It Grow?

Parish's saltbush naturally grows in central and southern California. You might find it near the coast or on the Channel Islands. In the past, it also grew in the western parts of the Mojave Desert and in Baja California, and it might still be there today.

This plant loves to grow in salty or alkaline soils. These are soils that have a lot of salt or other minerals in them. You can often find it in places like dry lakebeds or in temporary pools of water called vernal pools. These pools only appear after it rains and then dry up.

There are five different types, or "varieties," of Parish's saltbush. Each variety grows in its own separate area. Some of these varieties are only found in the Central Valley of California.

What Does It Look Like?

Parish's saltbush is a small plant. Its stems lie flat on the ground and are usually less than 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long. These stems have a whitish, scaly look.

The plant has many leaves, and they are also whitish and feel a bit rough. Each leaf is very small, less than a centimeter long. They are shaped like an oval or a small heart. The flowers of this plant are usually found in hard clusters. Both male and female flowers grow on the same plant.

Life Cycle

Parish's saltbush blooms, or flowers, during the warmer months. You can see its flowers from June all the way through October.