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Plant Profile

Grand Junction Milkvetch (Astragalus linifolius)

A seed collection was made from Dominguez Canyon in 2023 Photo Credit: Alex Seglias

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Fabaceae
State: CO
Nature Serve ID: 155314
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987

Description:

Astragalus linifolius is a perennial plant that is a member of the legume family. It flowers from late May to June, producing hundreds of white flowers, each with a purple spot on their keel. This milkvetch produces bright red fruit pods in late June. The flower and fruit colors stand out all the more because the plant appears leafless. Each leaf has only a few linear leaflets. Grand Junction milkvetch and a handful of other species in the Astragalus genus are known to absorb selenium. Selenium is a metal that is naturally occurring. Selenium compounds are used most often in electronic and photocopier components, but they are also widely used in glass, pigments, rubber, metal alloys, textiles, petroleum, medical therapeutic agents, and photographic emulsions. Although it is a natural product, its widespread use has lead to some concern, as it is leaching into drinking water in higher quantities than would be natural. Once in the water supply, it can cause serious health problems for humans and animals. (EPA 2001, Hamilton and Beath 1963)

Where is Grand Junction Milkvetch (Astragalus linifolius) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Sparsely vegetated habitats. Many populations occur on the Chinle and Morrison Formations, with pinyon-juniper and sagebrush. Elev. 4800-6200 ft. (Spackman 1997)

Distribution:

Colorado endemic. Eastern base of the Uncompahgre Plateau in Delta, Mesa and Montrose Cos. (Spackman 1997)

States & Provinces:

Grand Junction Milkvetch can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Grand Junction Milkvetch (Astragalus linifolius)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Alexandra Seglias

08/18/2023

A seed collection of Astragalus linifolius (now subsumed into Astragalus rafaelensis following genetic work done by Denver Botanic Gardens and collaborators) was made in 2023 to contribute to the IMLS seed longevity project. The original accession was collected in 1987 from Dominguez Canyon in Colorado. The population was scouted in 2022, but by the time we found it the seeds had already dispersed and/or were eaten by deer. Fruits were collected on a second trip in June 2023. 200 seeds from were sent to NLGRP for longevity testing.

Katie Heineman

06/25/2021

Denver Botanic Gardens holds at least one conservation seed collection of this species, originally collected in 1987. Denver Botanic Gardens plans to recollect seed from this 34 year old accession as part of CPC's IMLS-funded seed longevity project that will evaluate how the germination rates and RNA integrity of this species endures in long term seed storage.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Currently twenty-one documented occurrences, however these within a restricted range. More occurrences known. Found only on the Uncompahgre Plateau (approximately 300 square miles). Colorado National Monument and Rough Canyon Natural Area each contain one population. Insect infestation may threaten reproductive viability at one site.

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Insect herbivory may pose a threat (Pers. Comm. 1987).

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Documented twenty-one occurrences, most near Grand Junction (Mesa, Delta, and Montrose Cos.) (Pers. Comm. 1987).

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Karron (1987) compared pollination in this rare species and its more widespread relatives. He hypothesized that this species may be a poorer competitor for pollinators, and that this factor may help to maintain its rarity.