Atriplex are C-plants, with a characteristic leaf anatomy (kranz anatomy). The genus "Atriplex" is distributed nearly worldwide from subtropical to temperate and to subarctic regions. Most species-rich are Australia, North America, South America and Eurasia. Many species are halophytes and are adapted to dry environments with salty soils. The genus evolved in Middle Miocene, the C-photosynthesis pathway developed about 14.1-10.9 million years ago, when the climate became increasingly dry. The genus diversified rapidly and spread over the continents. The C"Atriplex" colonized North America probably from Eurasia during the Middle/Late Miocene, about 9.8-8.8 million years ago, and later spread to South America.
Ammophila (plant) sand dunes. Their native range includes few inland regions, with the Great Lakes of North America being the main exception. The genus name "Ammophila" originates from the Greek words ἄμμος ("ámmos"), meaning "sand", and φίλος ("philos"), meaning "friend". The "Ammophila" grasses are widely known as examples of xerophytes, plants that can withstand dry conditions. Despite their occurrence on seacoasts, "Ammophila" grasses are not particularly tolerant of saline soils; they can tolerate a salinity of about 15 g/l (1.5%), which makes them "moderate halophytes". "Ammophila" builds coastal sand dunes and thus stabilizes the sand. For this reason, the plants have been