Taxon Report

Atriplex pusilla (Torr. ex S. Wats.) S. Wats.

smooth saltbush

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Atriplex pusilla, commonly known as smooth saltbush, is a annual herb in the Chenopodiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, and Meadows and seeps (hot springs), growing at elevations from 1300 to 2000 meters. Atriplex pusilla is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Atriplex pusilla (Torr. ex S. Wats.) S. Wats.
Common Name:	smooth saltbush
Family:	Chenopodiaceae
Element Code:	PDCHE041P0
USDA Plants Symbol:	ATPU2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Sep	Jun-Sep
Elevation:	1300-2000 (4265-6560)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:	Alkaline
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	SH
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 2 on 2020-08-28 changed from 2.1 to 2B.1 on 2013-06-12 changed from 2 to 2.1 on 2012-02-15

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	1
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Mono (MNO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bloody Mtn. (3711858), Convict Lake (3711857), Old Mammoth (3711868), Toms Place (3711856), Watterson Canyon (3711866), Whitmore Hot Springs (3711867)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Move to List 1A? Need quads for Lassen Co. Many collections old; need field surveys. See Bot. King Expl. 291 (1871) for original description and Proc. Amer. Acad. 9: 110 (1874) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Addition to CRPR 2, G5 / S1 (2020)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 21 November 2025].