Cisco Milkvetch
Astragalus sabulosus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S1
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Astragalus sabulosus is included in a Conservation Agreement signed in 2021 by federal (USFS and BLM) and state (UDWR, UDOT and SITLA) partners to assure as much avoidance and mitigation as possible in occupied and potential habitat. It is known only from Grand County, Utah where it grows in the Grand River Valley and Cisco Desert. This plant can be found in Manco Shale substrates where mat-atriplex-shadscale communities occur. Cisco Milkvetch is rare pea family plant with large yellow to cream colored flowers that can be recognized by the spreading red stems and many green leaflets that which fan out, reaching for the sun.
Description
Astragalus sabulosus is included in a Conservation Agreement signed in 2021 by federal (USFS and BLM) and state (UDWR, UDOT and SITLA) partners to assure as much avoidance and mitigation as possible in occupied and potential habitat. It is known only from Grand County, Utah where it grows in the Grand River Valley and Cisco Desert. This plant can be found in Manco Shale substrates where mat-atriplex-shadscale communities occur. Cisco Milkvetch is rare pea family plant with large yellow to cream colored flowers that can be recognized by the spreading red stems and many green leaflets that which fan out, reaching for the sun.
Phenology
Flowers from late March to May
Diagnostic characteristics
Astragalus sabulosus resembles both Astragalus vehiculus and Astragalus iselyi in its form, pubescence and foliage, and differs only in its flower size and color. A. sabulosus produces cream-colored flowers measuring 27-34 mm long. A. vehiculus produces pink-tinged to whitish flowers measuring 23-27 mm long, and A. iselyi produces immaculate white flowers measuring 17-19 mm long. A. sabulosus varieties and A. iselyi are similar in form, have distinct red stems and produce downward hanging mature fruits.
Species range
This species is endemic to the Grand River Valley in Grand County, Utah.
Threats or limiting factors
As a narrow endemic, this species has a limited range and a naturally small number of individuals, making it inherently more vulnerable to threats and less resilient to changes in its environment. Primary threats include habitat loss and destruction from recreation, grazing, drought, invasive plant species, road maintainence, and energy developments.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies