Home/Species/ Mojave Milkvetch

Astragalus mohavensis

S. Wats.

Mojave Milkvetch

G3Vulnerable (G3G4) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G3VulnerableGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.158649

Element CodePDFAB0F5J0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderFabales

FamilyFabaceae

GenusAstragalus

Synonyms

Astragalus mojavensis

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Taxonomic Comments

Hickman (1993) spells this ASTRAGALUS MOJAVENSIS.

Conservation Status

Review Date2003-05-05

Change Date2003-05-05

Edition Date2002-10-09

Edition AuthorsGries, D. (1999), rev. L. Morse (2002)

Rank Reasons

Astragalus mohavensis is comprised of two varieties. A. mohavensis var. hemigyrus is a rare and localized taxon known from fewer than twenty occurrences in southern Nevada and California, although the lone California occurrence is presumed extirpated. A. mohavensis var. mohavensis is locally abundant and occurs in the northern Mohave Desert and contiguous mountains in southeastern California and adjacent Nevada. Active threats are not known for A. mohavensis var. hemigyrus.

Range Extent Comments

Astragalus mohavensis is known from southeastern California and adjacent Nevada, in the northern Mohave Desert and contiguous mountains. A. mohavensis var. mohavensis occurs throughout this range. A. mohavensis var. hemigyrus is local in Charleston Mountains, in Clark County, Nevada, and in the mountain ranges immediately west of Death Valley, in Inyo County, California (Isely 1998).

Occurrences Comments

Astragalus mohavensis var. hemigyrus is known from one occurrence in California, which is doubtfully still extant, and there are thirteen extant occurrences recorded in Nevada (Nevada Natural Heritage Program 1999).

Threat Impact Comments

There are no active threats known at this time for Astragalus mohavensis var. hemigyrus (Jim Morefield, personal communication 1999).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat of Astragalus hemigyrus var. hemigyrus: desert mountains, with creosote bush, rock ledges and gravelly slopes; 1200-1500 m. Habitat of A. mohavensis var. mohavensis: desert flats and mountain foothills, washes, dunes, canyons with greasewoods to pinyon-juniper; 900-2300 m (Isely 1998).

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN3

Province	Rank	Native
Nevada	S3	Yes
California	SNR	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)Yes

Roadless Areas (2)

Nevada (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Angel Peak North	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	12,577
Charleston - Macks Cyn	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	11,378

References (6)

Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii). Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University; MLBM Press, Provo, Utah. 1007 pp.
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Morefield, Jim. Personal Communication. Botanist, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Carson City, Nevada.
Nevada Natural Heritage Program. 1999. February 19-last update. List of sensitive plants. Online. Available: http://www.state.nv.us/nvnhp/sensplnt.htm. Accessed 1999, June 3.
Skinner, M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1997 (1994). Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 1997 Electronic Inventory Update of 1994 5th edition, California Native Plant Society, Special Publication No. 1, Sacramento.