San Jacinto Valley crownscale (Atriplex coronata var. notatior)
San Jacinto Valley crownscale is a bushy, erect plant, 4 to 12 inches tall and endemic to western Riverside County, California. Plants occur in silty-clay soils in wetland areas, primarily floodplains, and are associated with alkali playa, and alkali grassland and scrub habitats. San Jacinto Valley crownscale produces fruits capable of floating that can be dispersed during seasonal flooding, specifically by slow-moving water flows during winter and spring rainfall. The plant has small leaves that appear grayish and scaly during the growing season, but become straw-colored as they mature.
A photo of the plant may be viewed on Flickr
