Taxon Report

Atriplex tularensis Cov.

Bakersfield smallscale

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Atriplex tularensis, commonly known as Bakersfield smallscale, is a annual herb in the Chenopodiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chenopod scrub, growing at elevations from 90 to 200 meters. Atriplex tularensis is ranked 1A, Plants Presumed Extirpated in California and Either Rare or Extinct Elsewhere.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Atriplex tularensis Cov.
Common Name:
Bakersfield smallscale
Family: Chenopodiaceae
Element Code: PDCHE04240
USDA Plants Symbol: ATTU
Synonyms/Other Names:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 3
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 3
   Unknown (U) 0
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Coal Oil Canyon (3511911)?*, Gosford (3511931)*, Lamont (3511838), Weed Patch (3511828)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 4
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
3 100 %
Agriculture 3 100%
Groundwater pumping 1 33%
Hybridization 1 33%
Other 1 33%

Notes

Two historical occurrences extirpated by agriculture; only remaining occurrence at Kern Lake Preserve is presumed extirpated and is likely an undescribed form of A. serenana, not A. tularensis as previously thought. See Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 4:182 (1893) for original description, and Fremontia 19(2):15-18 (1991) for species account and discussion of management.
Threats:
Threatened by habitat loss, lowering of water table, and hybridization with A. serenana.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Rank Change from 1B.1 to 1A (2011)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 27 January 2025].