Arrowscale facts for kids

Atriplex phyllostegia, often called arrowscale, leafcover saltweed, or Truckee orach, is a type of saltbush. This plant grows naturally in the western United States, from California all the way to Utah. You can often find it in low-lying areas like meadows or in places where the soil is salty, such as dry lakebeds that only fill with water sometimes.

About the Arrowscale Plant

The arrowscale plant is an annual herb. This means it completes its entire life cycle, from seed to flower to new seeds, all within one year. It usually has a green stem that grows straight up and branches out. This stem can reach about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the arrowscale plant are quite special. They are thick and fleshy, shaped like a diamond or an arrowhead, which is why one of its common names is "arrowscale." Each leaf is usually between 1 and 4 centimeters long.

Most arrowscale plants are monoecious. This is a fancy word meaning that both male and female flowers grow on the same plant. However, some individual plants might only have female flowers.

Both male and female flowers grow where the leaves meet the stem. Sometimes, the male flowers grow in clusters that look like spikes. The female flower clusters are covered by small, leaf-like parts called bracteoles. These bracteoles can be up to 2 centimeters long and look a lot like tiny leaves.