Krascheninnikovia lanata

Taxobox
name = "Krascheninnikovia lanata"

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image_width = 260px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Amaranthaceae
subfamilia = Chenopodioideae
genus = "Krascheninnikovia"
species = "K. lanata"
binomial = "Krascheninnikovia lanata"
binomial_authority = (Pursh) A.Meeuse & Smit

"Krascheninnikovia lanata" is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name winter fat. It is native to much of western North America from central Canada to northern Mexico, where it grows in a number of habitats. This is a small shrub sending erect stem branches to heights between one half and one meter. It produces flat lance-shaped leaves up to 3 centimeters long. The stems and foliage are covered in woolly white hairs which age to a reddish color. The tops of the stem branches are occupied by plentiful spike inflorescences. The shrub is generally monoecious, with each upright inflorescence holding mostly staminate flowers with a few pistillate flowers clustered near the bottom. The staminate flowers have large, woolly leaflike bracts. The pistillate flowers have smaller bracts and develop tiny white fruits. The silky hairs on the fruits allow for wind dispersal. This species is an important winter forage for grazing domestic and wild animals. It thrives in salty soils such as those on alkali flats. The plants are very long-lived. They are sometimes cultivated.

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3084,3187,3188 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=KRLA2 USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/kralan/all.html Ecology]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Krascheninnikovia+lanata Photo gallery]