Atriplex hymenelytra
| Desert holly | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Atriplex |
| Species: | A. hymenelytra |
| Binomial name | |
| Atriplex hymenelytra | |
Atriplex hymenelytra, the desert holly, is silvery-whitish-gray shrub in the family Amaranthaceae, native to deserts of the southwestern United States.: 141 : 271 It is the most drought tolerant saltbush in North America. It can tolerate the hottest and driest sites in Death Valley, and remains active most of the year.
The common name refers to the leaves that are shaped similar to holly, but the plants are not related.: 141 The toothed leaves and the small reddish fruits borne on the plant give it a passing resemblance to the unrelated European holly.