Participant Info

Species

Krascheninnikovia lanata [Krascheninnikovia ceratoides subsp. lanata] [Ceratoides lanata]

Family

Amaranthaceae

CommonName

winterfat

Presence

Yes

Status

native

EarliestDate

1890

LatestDate

2020

Ecosystem

basin, shrubland, foothill, montane, ruderal, urban, sanddunes

Geobotanical

SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, NCristos, UBasin, LBasin

Counties

Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Saguache

Passes

WildlifePreserves

Baca, Great Sand Dunes, Hot Creek

Other Localities

Alamosa (town), Del Norte

PhotoRecords

YES Rich Haswell, Rio Grande Co, within town limits of Del Norte, 18 May 2020

Comments

Winterfat is very common in shrubland and foothills of both the Upper and Lower Basin, but does extend into the lower montane, especially on distrubed ground such as road sides. Unlike its fellow Amaranthacid, Halogeton glomeratus, Krascheninnikovia lanata is quite palatable to livestock and a good winter forage plant (hence the common name). It grows in the drier regions of every state west of the Great Plains. It follows the Rio Grande drainage down to the Big Bend country of Texas.

Annotation