Search / Plant Profile / Proatriplex pleiantha

Plant Profile

Mancos Saltbush (Proatriplex pleiantha)

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Amaranthaceae
State: CO, NM, NN, UT
Nature Serve ID: 135662
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

Mancos shadscale, an annual herb that is a member of Goosefoot Family was collected in southwestern Colorado and first described in 1950 by W. A. Weber. Now known from locations in northwestern New Mexico, southeastern Utah, and southwestern Colorado, it is most common on badland landscapes. The fleshy leaves are alternate to subopposite, attached to the stems. The fruiting bracts are triangular ovate and contain 2-6 flowers. The plant blooms from late May to June, producing yellowish flowers that turn red at maturity. It is the only Atriplex species that has male and female flowers on the same plants. Its shining, smooth, and black seed falls at maturity (Spackman 1997, Stutz et al. 1990, and Welsh 2003).

Where is Mancos Saltbush (Proatriplex pleiantha) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is found on barren, saltbush badlands; on highly dissected and eroded gray shale and clay of the Mancos Formation (Spackman 1997). Elev. 1,400-1,500 m. (Welsh 2003).Associated plants include Kochia Americana, Suaeda torreyana, Atriplex obovata, Monolepis nuttalliana, and Distichlis spicata in some areas. However, this species occurs most commonly on badland landscapes which are often completely devoid of other vegetation (Stutz et al. 1990).

Distribution:

Mancos shadscale has been found in Montezuma County, Colorado; San Juan County, New Mexico; and San Juan County, Utah (Stutz et al. 1990).

States & Provinces:

Mancos Saltbush can be found in Colorado, Navajo Nation, New Mexico, Utah

Which CPC Partners conserve Mancos Saltbush (Proatriplex pleiantha)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Range is quite restricted, only two EOs known. EGR (1984) supports GRANK of G1, but reranked 1994 as 'G3' based on newer information.

Akiko Okawado

01/01/2010

Threats include coal mining and gas well operations (NMRPTC 1999).

Akiko Okawado

01/01/2010

Not Available

Akiko Okawado

01/01/2010

Research is needed to understand all aspects of the ecology and biology of this species.

Akiko Okawado

01/01/2010

Not Available