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Plant Profile

Parish's Saltbush (Atriplex parishii)

Photo Credit: Joe Davitt

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Chenopodiaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 149110
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 10/22/2019

Description:

This rare annual was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in Riverside County in 1993. It has since been found in a few other locations in Southern California, and only grows on alkaline, salty soils. These soils are generally found around dry lake beds or vernal pools, and are often referred to as "playas," the Spanish word for "beaches."

Where is Parish's Saltbush (Atriplex parishii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Alkaline playas are typically found around the edges of dry lakes or vernal pools which are temporarily inundated with water in the wet season and have high concentrations of alkali salts. This is a rare and endangered habitat. The species has only been found under 480 meters in elevation.

Distribution:

Field work is needed. Historically, the species was found dispersed in small pockets throughout Southern California. It was thought to be extinct before being rediscovered near Hemet, CA in 1993. Another population was found near Ramona, CA in 2001. It has been reported from 1 or 2 other locations in San Diego County, and likely still occurs in a few other locations in the region.

States & Provinces:

Parish's Saltbush can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Parish's Saltbush (Atriplex parishii)?

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 10/22/19

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

10/11/2020

SDZG made a seed collection from a population near Ramona, CA in October of 2019. We collected seed from 105 individuals, the collection contains over 5,000 seeds.

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global holds 1 accessions of Atriplex parishii in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 15000 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global has collected 1 seed accessions of Atriplex parishii from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 61 maternal plants

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

Field work is needed. There doesn't seem to be a consensus as to the number of extant populations, or their size.

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

Populations are separated by considerable distances. Seed collections should be made from as many extant populations as possible.

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

As a habitat type, Alkali playas are in decline. They are generally located in grasslands which have been used for grazing and they are inconspicuous, often cleared for farming activities. This species has a patchy distribution, with populations separated by long distances. As an annual, population numbers fluctuate and are dependent upon yearly weather conditions. Little is known about the longevity of the soil seed bank. Invasive grasses are ubiquitous in these habitats. Most alarmingly, it is difficult to know what remains of this species in the wild. Populations in Ramona, CA and Hemet, CA appear to be extant and monitored, little other information is available.

Joe Davitt

11/01/2019

SDZG made a seed collection from a population near Ramona, CA in October of 2019. We collected seed from 105 individuals, the collection contains over 5,000 seeds.