Germination and establishment of fourwing saltbush in the Southwest

H. W. Springfield

Treesearch

Germination and establishment of fourwing saltbush in the Southwest

Informally Refereed

Authors:

H. W. Springfield

Year:

1970

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Res. Pap. RM-RP-55. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 48 p.

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Download (PDF 19.28 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/65148.pdf

Abstract

Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.) is one of the most important shrubs on western ranges. Widely distributed, this plant furnishes forage for livestock and wildlife in all seasons; it is especially valuable as browse on winter ranges. Also known as chamizo in the Southwest, and as buckwheat shrub, white greasewood, soltsage, bushy atriplex, and wafer sagebrush elsewhere, fourwing soltbush derives its most common name from the characteristic four-winged fruit. Its importance is due to abundance, accessibility, size, large volume of forage, evergreen habit, high palatability, and nutritive value (U. S. Forest Service 1937). Nearly 70 years ago, Smith ( 1900) recommended this species for cultivation because of its high nutritive value and growth on poor and salty soils.

Keywords

fourwing saltbush, Atriplex canescens, forage, livestock, wildlife, range management

Citation

Springfield, H. W. 1970. Germination and establishment of fourwing saltbush in the Southwest. Res. Pap. RM-RP-55. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 48 p.