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Photo by Andrey Zharkikh; Andrey Zharkikh; Andrey Zharkikh; Andrey Zharkikh
Sources: ESRI, USGS, NOAA
Giant four-wing saltbush
Atriplex canescens var. gigantea
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5T2
State (S-rank): S2
External links
Species range
Estimate from download of data from Utah Rare Plant Database on March 2nd 2023.
Geocat 14 observations: Extent of Occurrence: 3,108.305 km2.
Historic observations over 40 years old were not used.
Active sand dunes, with scurfpea, ricegrass, and other dune plants, at 1490 to 1555 m, in Juab Co., Utah; a Utah Great Basin “endemic (Welsh et al. 2015).
Threats or limiting factors
Threats include impacts from OHV recreation, increased fires due to invasive cheat grass, and drought. The southernmost occurrences are within the Little Sahara National Recreation Area and surrounding Sheeprock / Tintic ORV Area. The northern most occurrences are on Dugway Proving Grounds US Army lands. Utah Native Plant Society also noted increase in fire due to invasive Bromus species and recreation (Fertig ed. 2016). Numerous fire perimeters have been mapped near the southernmost occurrences in Little Sahara. The Utah Division of Water Resources reports that Utah is now in "extreme" or "exceptional" drought which is likely impacting this species although the growth habit of this species probably makes it somewhat drought tolerant.
