Search / Plant Profile / Astragalus missouriensis var. humistratus

Plant Profile

Missouri Milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis var. humistratus)

Global Rank: T1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Fabaceae
State: CO, NM
Nature Serve ID: 140700
Lifeform: Subshrub, Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Astragalus missouriensis var. humistrata is a perennial purple-flowered legume with pinnate basal leaves. Mature pods are necessary to distinguish this variety from related species A. amphioxys and A. chameleuce, as well as other varieties of A. missouriensis. Plants flower in May and set fruit in June.

Where is Missouri Milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis var. humistratus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Occurs in open dry meadows or sparsely vegetated soils within ponderosa pine woodland, Gambel oak-mixed montane shrubland, and upper pinon-juniper woodland (Decker 2006; Heil 2007). Substrate is clay soils derived from Mancos, Lewis, and Mesa Verde shales (Decker 2006).

Distribution:

Known only from New Mexico (Rio Arriba) and Colorado (Archuleta and Hinsdale counties).

States & Provinces:

Missouri Milkvetch can be found in Colorado, New Mexico

Which CPC Partners conserve Missouri Milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis var. humistratus)?

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

08/27/2020

Seed collection and storage

08/27/2020

Seed collection and storage

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

There are 12 known occurrences from three counties, one county in New Mexico and two counties in Colorado. However, many of the occurrences are historical. Population size is small. Threatened by development.

Isely, Mary VB Goshorn

01/01/2010

The primary threat in Colorado is considered to be roads and housing and urban development in the vicinity of Pagosa Springs. Most of the Colorado occurrences are along roadsides as the plant tends to grow in disturbed soil. Little is known about the effe

Isely, Mary VB Goshorn

01/01/2010

A total of 12 occurrences have been documented, 10 in Colorado and 2 in New Mexico. However many of the occurrences are historical and with sparse information.

Isely, Mary VB Goshorn

01/01/2010

Unknown

Isely, Mary VB Goshorn

01/01/2010

On the USFS Sensitive Species list

Isely, Mary VB Goshorn

01/01/2010

The primary information need for Astragalus missouriensis var. humistratus is the determination of total population numbers and trends over time for known populations. It would also be useful to survey for additional populations, especially on public lands. Basic life-history information, including pollination dynamics and possible impacts on pollinators, rates of recruitment and survival, dispersal, and metapopulation dynamics would contribute to conservation and restoration efforts. Finally, quantification of the effects of land management practices on the survival and persistence of the species would greatly facilitate management decisions for this species (Decker 2006).

Isely, Mary VB Goshorn

01/01/2010

Seed collection and storage