Atriplex garrettii is native to the United States and endemic to the areas surrounding the Colorado River. Commonly referred to, as Garrett’s saltbush this shrub inhabits Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. Specifically A. garrettii can be found in Southeastern areas of Utah, Southwestern Colorado, Northeastern Arizona and Northwestern New Mexico. This species is found in desert flats and river benches at an altitude of 900 to 1400 meters. Specifically, in Utah this species is found at elevation between 1,030 and 1,880 meters.
This low spreading shrub reaches a size of 0.2 to 0.8 meters tall. The succulent tissue of this shrub is densely covered by brain like scales. This particular species has subtle gray color and does not produce spines. The leaves are almost an egg shape except they begin to narrow towards the tip and base. The leaves are 20 to 30 mm long and 10 to 20 mm wide. Each petiole is about 1 to 5 mm long. This species flowers between April and May and may again flower after a heavy summer precipitation event. Atriplex garrettii produces four-winged fixed fruiting structures that are 6 to 9 mm long. Recent research suggests that sex-determination in A. garrettii is controlled by a single gene or group of genes on a pair of homologous chromosomes.
Reference web sites:
http://www.jstor.org/view/00030031/di003393/00p0154o/11?frame=noframe&userID=9b656dc5@utah.edu/01c0a80a6400501cf18a8&dpi=3&config=jstor
http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=ATGA2&display=31
http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/reprint/85/2/162
http://extension.usu.edu/files/natrpubs/despub.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atriplex
http://www.jstor.org/view/00409618/di004562/00p3765u/11?frame=noframe&userID=9b656dc5@utah.edu/01c0a80a6400501cf18a8&dpi=3&config=jstor
http://www.nr.usu.edu/Geography-Department/utgeog/utvatlas/family/chen/atga2.html