BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Atriplex truncata
wedgescale orache
| Scientific Name: | Atriplex truncata |
|---|---|
| English Name: | wedgescale orache |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S4? |
| Date Status Assigned: | April 30, 2025 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | April 30, 2025 |
| Reasons: | Atriplex truncata is known from at least 13 locations in BC, over 26,237 square kilometres. In the Kamloops area, this species is locally abundant and does not appear to be severely threatened, but other locations must be surveyed to determine overall abundance and risk. There is some tolerance for disturbance, as the species can survive and reproduce in areas that have been overgrazed and colonized by exotic plants. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | E = 5,000-20,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The estimated range extent is 26,237 square kilometres from Puntzi Lake to Williams Lake and the Chilcotin and from Kamloops to Osoyoos in the south Okanagan. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | D = 6-25 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | The estimated area of occupancy is 28 square kilometres or 7-4 square kilometre grid cells. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | B = 6 - 20 |
| Comments: | Seven occurrences are presumed extant and another six populations are historical. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Percent Area with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | F = Excellent (>40%) |
| Comments: | Locally abundant in the Kamloops grasslands, often in very disturbed sites (C. Bjork, pers. comm. 2011) suggesting some ability to persist through the disturbances or colonize opportunistically. Despite poor habitat conditions (and damage to plants) in this area, plants manage to produce lots of seeds (C. Bjork, pers. comm. 2011). |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | U = Unknown |
| Population Size: | F = 10,000 - 100,000 individuals |
| Comments: | 10,000's of individuals in numerous subpopulations in Kamloops area (C. Bjork, pers. comm. 2011). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Widespread, low-severity threat |
| Comments: | Habitat in the Kamloops area has been degraded by overgrazing, invasive species and recreational vehicles (C. Bjork, pers. comm. 2011). Mining activities and overgrazing have both left some areas of grassland in poor shape, but these are intermixed with areas in better condition. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | U=Unknown |
| Environmental Specificity: | U=Unknown |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Donovan, M. and C. Bjork. |
| Date: | April 22, 2015 |
| References | |
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British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. Botany Program. 2000. Database containing records of rare plant collections and observations in the province of British Columbia.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2015. Conservation Status Report: Atriplex truncata. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 4, 2026).