Taxon Report
Atriplex gypsophila R. E. Prestongypsum-loving crownscale |
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Species Description:
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
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Scientific Name: |
Atriplex gypsophila R. E. Preston |
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Common Name: |
gypsum-loving crownscale |
| Family: | Chenopodiaceae |
| Element Code: | PDCHE04390 |
| USDA Plants Symbol: | |
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Synonyms/Other Names: |
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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 |
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State Rank: |
S2S3 |
| State List: | None |
| Fed List: | None |
| Other Status: | BLM_S |
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CRPR Changes: |
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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 |
| 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
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Threats: |
| Potentially threatened by inappropriate grazing (cattle and sheep), trampling, construction (powerlines, pipelines, and roads); possibly threatened by competition with nonnative plants. |
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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 20 January 2025].