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Questions and Answers: 2015

Question: Is this Artiplx patula or A. acadiensis? It is growing prostrate on the beach (Narragansett Bay, Jamestown RI), 7 ft+ …

• Question

  Is this Artiplx patula or A. acadiensis? It is growing prostrate on the beach (Narragansett Bay, Jamestown RI), 7 ft+ diameter, just above the full-moon high tide line, in a narrow strip with Sea Rocket, Saltwort, Beach Clotbur, Wild Radish, and Pigweed. Leaves green, only stem joints are red. Same species (I think) grows upright among Phragmites behind the beach. I'm unable to find acadiensis as either a species or variety in Vascular Flora of RI(1998). When was it recognized as a species?

  Answer

  Dear restoretpoint, I cannot identify the Atriplex with 100% confidence because features of the flowers are not available in the images you supplied. Based on the leaf morphology, it is likely Atriplex prostrate (hastate-leaved orache), but it is possible for it to be other species. Atriplex acadiensis usually has a cuneate (wedge-shaped) leaf base, not a truncate base as in your photograph. An image of the array of flowers and close-up of the fruits would be necessary for a precise determination. Hopefully this educated guess will provide you the direction you need.