Atriplex Atriplex, (Rafn) Fries

16. A. calotheca (Rafn) Fries , Nov. FI. Suec. ed. 2, Mant. 3:164 (1842).

More or less glabrous annual 30-100 cm. Leaves triangular-hastate, irregularly sinuate-dentate. Inflorescence spicate, acute. Bracteoles up to 25 mm, hastate or cordate-triangular, laciniate, without appendages on the back. 2« = 18. Coasts of the Baltic extending to S. Norway and N. W. Germany. Da Fe Ge No Po Rs (B, C) Su.

(17-19.) A. hastata group. Erect or procumbent annuals up to 100 cm, farinose when young; stem strongly ridged. Lower leaves up to 10 x 7 cm. Inflorescence paniculate or spicate. Bracteoles smooth or tuberculate on the back.

The seeds in this group are dimorphic, the ‘ small’ seeds are 1 -2 mm, black, smooth, the ‘ large’ seeds are 2-3 mm, brown, reticulate-rugose.

A difficult group not yet properly understood. The evidence available indicates that all the species within the group are interfertile, and many populations are made up of plants variously intermediate between two or more of the species. It is, therefore, often impossible to identify individuals with any certainty. 1 At least some bracteoles distinctly stalked 19. longipes 1 Bracteoles sessile, sometimes cuneate at base 2 Bracteolesthin,not inflated; plant upto100 cm, usuallyerect

17. hastata 2 Bracteoles thick,inflated; plant usuallynot morethan20cm,

procumbent 18. glabriuscula