Taxon Report
Atriplex tularensis Cov.Bakersfield smallscale |
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Taxon Summary
Atriplex tularensis, commonly known as Bakersfield smallscale, is a annual herb in the Amaranthaceae 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
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Scientific Name: |
Atriplex tularensis Cov. |
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Common Name: |
Bakersfield smallscale |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Element Code: | PDCHE04240 |
| USDA Plants Symbol: | ATTU |
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Synonyms/Other Names: |
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Ecology and Life History
| Lifeform: | annual herb |
| Blooming Period: Jun-Oct | Jun-Oct |
| Elevation: | 90-200 (295-655) |
| General Habitats: | Chenopod scrub |
| Microhabitat: | |
| Microhabitat Details: |
Conservation Status
| CA Rare Plant Rank: | 1A |
| Global Rank: | GX |
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State Rank: |
SX |
| State List: | CE |
| Fed List: | None |
| Other Status: | |
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CRPR Changes: |
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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 Fremontia 19(2):15-18 (1991) for species account and discussion of management. |
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Threats: |
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Threatened by habitat loss, lowering of water table, and hybridization with A. serenana. |
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Taxonomy: |
| See Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 4:182 (1893) for original description. |
Selected References
| Proposed Rank Change from 1B.1 to 1A (2011) |
Citation
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2026. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 13 May 2026].