Stage Station Milkvetch
Astragalus vehiculus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G1
State (S-rank): S1
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Astragalus sabulosus var. vehiculus is known only from Grand County, Utah where it grows in the Courthouse Wash of the Navajo Basin. This plant grows in shadscale, woody-aster and galleta plant communities found on Morrison Foundation substrate. Stage Station Milkvetch is a stunning pea plant that has pink tinged to whitish flowers and red stems with many ascending green leaflets that strongly carries the odor of the seleniferous soil. Astragalus sabulosus var vehiculus 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.
Description
Astragalus sabulosus var. vehiculus is known only from Grand County, Utah where it grows in the Courthouse Wash of the Navajo Basin. This plant grows in shadscale, woody-aster and galleta plant communities found on Morrison Foundation substrate. Stage Station Milkvetch is a stunning pea plant that has pink tinged to whitish flowers and red stems with many ascending green leaflets that strongly carries the odor of the seleniferous soil. Astragalus sabulosus var vehiculus 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.
Phenology
This species blooms in mid spring, between April and May.
Diagnostic characteristics
Astragalus sabulosus var. vehiculus resembles both Astragalus sabulosus var. sabulosus and Astragalus iselyi in its form, pubescence, foliage and differs only in its flower size and color. A. sabulosus var. vehiculus produces pink-tinged to whitish flowers measuring 23-27 mm long, A. sabulosus var. sabulosus produces cream-colored flowers measuring 27-34 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
A Navajo Basin endemic, restricted to a small area near Courthouse Wash, Grand County, Utah.
Threats or limiting factors
Threats include impacts from grazing, recreational use, drought, road and utility line maintainence.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies