Taxon Report

Atriplex argentea Stutz, G.L. Chu, & S.C. Sanderson var. longitrichoma S.L. Welsh

Pahrump orache

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Atriplex argentea var. longitrichoma, commonly known as Pahrump orache, is a annual herb in the Chenopodiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 640 to 850 meters. Atriplex argentea var. longitrichoma is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Atriplex argentea Stutz, G.L. Chu, & S.C. Sanderson var. longitrichoma S.L. Welsh
Common Name:	Pahrump orache
Family:	Chenopodiaceae
Element Code:	PDCHE04056
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-May	Apr-May
Elevation:	640-850 (2100-2790)
General Habitats:	Mojavean desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Alkaline, Disturbed areas, Roadsides
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G5T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B.1 on 2010-07-29

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	8
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	4
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Nopah Peak (3611611), Sixmile Spring (3611621), Stewart Valley (3611622), Tecopa Pass (3511671), Twelvemile Spring (3611612)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	75 %
ORV activity	6	75%

Notes



Threatened by development and vehicles. See Madroño 45(2): 128 (1998) for original description, and Rhodora 102: 421 (2001) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed New Add to List 1B.1, G5T1T2 S1 (2010)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 November 2025].