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Four-corners orach
Proatriplex pleiantha
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G3
State (S-rank): S2
External links
Species range
Estimate from download of data from Utah Rare Plant Database on July 18, 2024.
Geocat 7 observations: Extent of Occurrence: 19.578 km2.
Historic observations over 40 years old were not used.
Salt desert shrub community, Morrison Formation, southeastern San Juan Co.; Colo. and N. Mex.; a Colorado Plateau endemic (Welsh et al. 2015).
Threats or limiting factors
The main threats are from habitat degradation due to energy and mineral extraction, drought, and road maintenance.
Threats compiled using observations and notes from Utah Rare Plant Database and Utah Geospatial Resource Center GIS Data downloaded in 2024. Severity of impacts are not well known so ranges are provided where appropriate. Oil and Gas development is a threat to occurrences in Utah. Occurrences near roads may be impacted by maintenance. Drought and climate change is also a threat and likely impacting this species through out it's range (Wrobleski, 2023).
Comments from Nora Ventrella on global rank: Strip and surface mining was listed as a threat to 20% of Colorado, Navajo Nation, and New Mexico populations, although all of these are historical occurrences (NatureServe 2024). Oil and gas development is common throughout the four-corners area, and several populations occur near oil wells and pads (NMNHP 2024), where they have been threatened or destroyed by coal strip mines and gas well operations (Roth 1999). Several populations occur (or occurred) within the Navajo Mine lease boundary on Navajo Nation lands (Hyder et al. 1995). Drought and climate change is a threat to this species, which is an annual and dependent on favorable climactic conditions to complete its life cycle.
