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Suckley's Saltbush - Atriplex suckleyi
Other Names:
Atriplex dioica (Nutt.) Macbr. [not Raf.], Endolepis dioica, Stutzia dioica
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
DRAFT: Requesting feedback on the 2026 revised rank, factors, and State Rank Reason outlined below and in the Conservation Status Rank Report.
Atriplex suckleyi is an annnual species of badlands and sparsely vegetated, fine-textured soils in eastern and central Montana. It is widespread and relatively common in some areas of suitable habitat. No threats are known to exist that are signifcant in scope, severity and/or immediacy. Negative impacts are expected in localized areas from various human activity and land use practices, and invasive species may have impacts at some locations but are not significant given the relative abundance and widespread nature of Atriplex suckleyi. Overall, the species appears to be relatively secure in the state and not of conservation concern.
General Description
Monoecious annuals with mostly glabrous, fleshy, often reddish foliage. Stems erect or ascending, branched, 10–30 cm. Leaves sessile, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 1–3 cm long with entire margins. Male flowers in short terminal spikes of glomerules, 4- to 5-parted. Female flowers solitary in leaf axils below the males; calyx 3- to 4-parted; pistillate bracts ovate, united to the tip. Mature pistillate bracts scurfy, up to 2 mm long, united to the tip (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
In MT mostly occurring in the eastern counties but also in Beaverhead County; regional endemic from AB and SK south through the Dakotas through WY to northwestern CO (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX; Welsh 2003 in Fl. N. Amer. Vol. 4).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 162
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Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
Seipel, T.F. 2006. Plant species diversity in the sagebrush steppe of Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 87 p.- Sieg, C. H., D. W. Uresh, and R. M. Hanson. 1983. Natural growth of Atriplex suckleyi (Torrey Rydb.) on bentonite mine spoils in southeastern Montana. pp. 53-58 in Proc. Symposium on the Biology of Atriplex and related chenopods. USDA For. Servo Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-172. 309 pp.
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