Taxon Report

Atriplex gypsophila R. E. Preston

gypsum-loving crownscale

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Atriplex gypsophila, commonly known as gypsum-loving crownscale, is a annual herb in the Chenopodiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chenopod scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 185 to 770 meters. Atriplex gypsophila is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Atriplex gypsophila R. E. Preston
Common Name:	gypsum-loving crownscale
Family:	Chenopodiaceae
Element Code:	PDCHE04390
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	185-770 (605-2525)
General Habitats:	Chenopod scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Clay
Microhabitat Details:	Clay barrens or badlands with low plant cover; soil is clay or clay loam commonly embedded with gypsum crystals, gravel, or fossils (gastropods, shark teeth).

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G2G3
State Rank:	S2S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B.3 on 2024-07-11

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes




Threats:
Potentially threatened by inappropriate grazing (cattle and sheep), trampling, construction (powerlines, pipelines, and roads); possibly threatened by competition with nonnative plants.
Taxonomy:
Previously identified as A. coronata var. vallicola; separated from that taxon by having longer, broader leaves and flabellate diaspores (vs shorter, narrower leaves and cuneate diaspores in var. vallicola).

Selected References

Proposed Addition to California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, G2G3/S2S3 (2024)

Madroño 70(2): 104–113 (2023)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 7 November 2025].