Leaves of 6 Atriplex species (saltbush) grown in Saudi Arabia were studied for their nutritive characteristics. Crude protein contents varied between 16.7 -25.2%, crude fat between 1.0 -1.6%, crude fiber between 7.8 -10.4% and ash between 18.5 -27.2%, on a dry matter basis. A. unduhta had the lowest and A. nummulario had the highest protein and iiber contents. Ash content was lowest in A. canescens and highest in A. u&data. The level of Na was extremely low (0.21%) in A. canescens compared to that in the other species (2.38 -5.57%). The level of K (6.06%) was highest in A. canescens compared to 2.48 -3.54% in other species. Ca content was significantly higher in A. vesicaria (2.48%) than that in the remaining species (1.12 -1.50%). Variations in the levels of P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn were only minor. Sulphur amhto acids (methionine + cysthte) were the most deficient essential amino acids in all species (chemical score = 45 -61) while lysine contents were 75 ->lOO% of the FAO/WHO (1973) reference protein. Predicted digestible dry matter ranged between 74.5 -78.8% and digestible energy (M CaIs/Kg) between 3.215 -3.399. These data suggest that Atriplex leaves as a range forage for iivestock would have good nutritive value.Atriplex species commonly known as saltbush are strong candidates for plant establishments in saline areas and for increasing productivity in arid or semiarid regions of the world because of their salt tolerance and high productivity (Kleinkopf et al. 1975). Hence these plants have been grown as a forage shrub for many years in marginal agricultural lands in South Africa, Australia, USA and the Middle East (Goodin and McKell 1970). In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where prolonged drought and excessive salinity are common, several species of Atriplex were grown successfully on marginal agricultural lands (Hyder 1981). Atriplex species are reported to show considerable variation in their chemical composition (Smit and Jacobs 1978) and differ considerably in their responses to sodium salts (Goodin and McKell 1970). Considerable information on the chemical composition and nutritional characteristics of the Atriplex species is available in the literature (