Atriplex cristata plant. by Andrew Greller. Sagamore Hill NHM, Oyster Bay, NY_171005_ 315.crp2.contr.jpg (shared 10/2017).

Atriplex arenaria is an annual C4 herb (Jacobs 2001), 20- 50 cm tall, erect to prostrate, widely branched. 

Leaves opposite below, alternate above, stalk short, blade 1-3 cm long, oblong, elliptic, or widest above middle, tip rounded to tapered, base tapered, surface silvery-scaly, margins mostly smooth. 

Atriplex arenaria.USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913.jpg (Accessed 12/2014).

Flowers tiny, dull, sexes separate, male spikes 1-2 cm long, female flowers in small, rounded tight clusters, enclosed by two small toothed bracts. 

Fruit dry, 1-seeded, to 0.6 cm with 4-7 triangular teeth, surrounded by enlarged, fleshy, toothed bracts, appearing spiky. 

Wetland status: FAC-. 

Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent. 

Origin: Native. 

Habitat: Along beaches, above high tide line, margins of salt marshes.