SafePlants

Atriplex corrugata: Mat Saltbush

Atriplex corrugata, commonly known as Mat Saltbush or Matscale, is a low-growing shrub native to certain regions of North America and Australia. This plant is known for forming dense, prostrate mats.

Considerations for Pets

• Mat Saltbush forms mats, potentially obscuring hazards.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Atriplex corrugata S. Watson
• Family: Chenopodiaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Group: Dicot
• Synonyms: Atriplex nuttallii S. Watson var. corrugata (S. Watson) A. Nelson, Atriplex pumilio R.Br.

Distribution and Habitat

• Mat Saltbush is found in the Inter-Mountain Basins region of the United States.
• It grows at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 feet.
• It thrives in heavy, alkaline clay soils.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Mat Saltbush is a dioecious shrub, meaning that individual plants are either male or female.
• It forms dense, prostrate mats that can be 5 to 20 times wider than they are tall.
• Prostrate branches often produce adventitious roots where they contact the soil.
• It is a perennial plant.

Ecological Role

• It can form relatively pure stands, sometimes in combination with other species like Gardner's saltbush (Atriplex gardneri) or birdfoot sagebrush (Artemisia pedatifida).

Additional Common Names

• Mat-atriplex
• Matscale

Further Information

• Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Atriplex pumilio, also called Mat Saltbush.
• The NIISS (presumably National Invasive Species Information Center) offers a species profile with information on habitat, control, and invasion status.