| Atriplex confertifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Chenopodiaceae |
| Genus: | Atriplex |
| Species: | A. confertifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Atriplex confertifolia Torr. & Frém. |
|
Atriplex confertifolia (Shadscale) is a species of evergreen shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, which is native to the western United States.
Shadscale is a common, often dominant, shrub in the lowest and driest areas of the Great Basin. It prefers sandy, well-drained soils and it is tolerant of moderately saline conditions.
The height of Atriplex confertifolia varies from 1 to 3 feet. Shadscale fruits and leaves provide important winter browse for both domestic livestock and native herbivores. Compared to Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shadscale has shorter and wider leaves and the fruit does not have four wings (although it may have two wings in a "V" shape).