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Mike Boulay -22- April 11, 2011
<br />photographs of these two species on the Internet suggests that the "bushy growth"
<br />or "definitely shrubby" growth form and spreading branches of Alkali Seepweed
<br />are characteristic of this species and none of the plants we called Gray Molly
<br />possessed these characteristics. We believe that all of the plants we observed are
<br />more typical of the reported growth habit and on-line photographs of Gray Molly
<br />rather than Alkali Seepweed as suggested by the DRMS.
<br />Leaves. Weber makes no mention of the leaf characteristics of these two species.
<br />Harrington reports that the leaves of Gray Molly are "mostly simple, 5-30 mm long,
<br />narrowly linear, erect or ascending, acute, fleshy sessile, glabrous to sericeous,"
<br />while the leaves of Seepweed are 1.5 to 3 cm long, green, linear, strongly
<br />flattened, acute or acuminate ... " Welsh reports that for Gray Molly, the leaves
<br />are "5-25 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, linear, semiterete or cylindric or round in cross
<br />section and fleshy" while for Seepweed the leaves are "0.5-3.5 cm long, 1-3 mm
<br />thick, subterete to flattened, abruptly short-petiolate ... " In our opinion, this
<br />distinguishing difference is the greatest factor allowing for differentiation of these
<br />two species. Our examination of these plants revealed no leaves 1.5 to 3 cm long
<br />and none that were flattened or acute. In terms of leaf size, leaf shape and the
<br />size of the small, fleshy, rounded cylindrical leaves, it is clear that this species is
<br />Gray Molly and not Alkali Seepweed.
<br />Flowers and Fruits. Weber has no information on the flowers or fruits of these two
<br />species. Harrington reports that for Gray Molly, the flowers are often "solitary or in
<br />2's or 3's, hairy; perianth in fruit 2 mm across, the wings 1.5-2 mm long,
<br />conspicuous. . . " While for Seepweed the flowers are "slender and lax; perianth
<br />lobes obtuse, rounded on the back; seed vertical or horizontal, 1-1.5 mm broad."
<br />Welch reports that for Gray Molly, the flowers are "solitary or 2-5, sessile in axils of
<br />scarcely reduced leaves, inflorescence often more than half the branch length,
<br />perianth segments pubescent, at least apically, 1-1.5 mm long, hooded above,
<br />somewhat enlarged in fruit, ultimately keeled and with a membranous, striate wing
<br />to 2 mm long and 3 mm wide." While for Seepweed the flowers are "1-8 per axil,
<br />calyx lobes equal, ca 1.5-2 mm long, the lobes mostly rounded dorsally, nor
<br />horned or tuberculate, fruit horizontal or vertical, seeds 0.8 to 1.2 mm wide, black,
<br />shiny." Examination of the detailed photographs of these two species on the
<br />Internet reveals that the fruits of Seepweed are clearly "winged utricles" smaller but
<br />almost identical to those of Fourwing Saltbush, while those of Gray Molly are
<br />clearly "keeled and with a membranous striate wing ... " The markedly different
<br />characteristics of the flowers and fruits of these two plants are sufficient to permit a
<br />quick differentiation between these two species. The pronounced "hairy" and
<br />"pubescent" nature of the flowers and the marked differences in the fruits clearly
<br />confirm that all of the plants we observed were Gray Molly plants and not Alkali
<br />Seepweed plants as suggested by the DRMS.
<br />This detailed discussion confirms the correct identification of the plant we identified
<br />as being Gray Molly and not Alkali Seepweed. Therefore, it is not necessary to
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