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Astragalus desperatus

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Astragalus desperatus

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. desperatus
Binomial name
Astragalus desperatus
Varieties[2]
  • Astragalus desperatus var. conspectus Barneby
  • Astragalus desperatus var. desperatus
  • Astragalus desperatus var. neeseae Barneby
  • Astragalus desperatus var. petrophilus M.E.Jones
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Astragalus barnebyi S.L.Welsh & N.D.Atwood (1975)
    • Astragalus desperatus var. typicus Barneby (1948)
    • Astragalus equisolensis Neese & S.L.Welsh (1981)
    • Batidophaca despelata (M.E.Jones) Rydb. (1929)
    • Batidophaca petrophila (M.E.Jones) Rydb. (1929)
    • Tium desperatum (M.E.Jones) Rydb. (1905)

Astragalus desperatus (common name - rimrock milkvetch)[1] is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[3]: 120 

Description

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Growth pattern

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It is a low growing perennial plant growing from 12 to 4+12 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) tall.[3]: 120 

Leaves and stems

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Compound pinnate leaves are from 12 to 4+12 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) long, with 7–17 elliptical to inversely lanceolate leaflets.[3]: 120 

Inflorescence and fruit

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It blooms from March to August.[3]: 120  The inflorescence are from stalk to 5 inches (13 cm) tall, with multiple flowers on short stems from the stalk.[3]: 120  Each ink to purple flower has a calyx tube that is bell-shaped and up to 12 inch (1.3 cm) long, and petals to 14 inch (0.64 cm) long.[3]: 120  Seed pods are up to 34 inch (1.9 cm) long, elliptical or curved, and covered with stiff hairs.[3]: 120 

Habitat and range

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It grows only on the Colorado Plateau (endemic) in mixed desert shrub and pinyon-juniper forest communities.[3]: 120 

References

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  1. ^ a b NatureServe (2024). "Astragalus desperatus". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Astragalus desperatus M.E.Jones". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7