Mineral compostition of Atriplex hymenelytra growing in the northern Mojave Desert

Fifty samples of Atriplex hymenelytra (Torr.) S. Wats, were collected from several different locations in southern Nevada and California to test variability in mineral composition. Only Na, V, P. Ca, Mg, Mn, and Sr in the samples appeared to represent a uniform population resulting in normal curves for frequency distribution. Even so, about 40 percent of the variance for these elements was due to location. All elements differed enough with location so that no element really represented a uniform population. The coefficient of variation for most elements was over 40 percent and one was over 100 percent. The proportion of variance due to analytical variation averaged 16.2 ± 13.1 percent (standard deviation), that due to location was 43.0 ± 13.4 percent, and that due to variation of plants within location was 40.7 ± 13.0 percent.