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Home/Species/ Spiny Milkwort

Rhinotropis subspinosa

(S. Watson) J.R. Abbott

Spiny Milkwort

G4Apparently Secure (G4?) Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143948
Element CodePDPGL021Q0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPolygalales
FamilyPolygalaceae
GenusRhinotropis
Synonyms
Polygala subspinosaS. Wats.
Other Common Names
Cushion Milkwort (EN) spiny milkwort (EN)
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
Recognized as a distinct species, excluding Polygala heterorhyncha in Kartesz (1994, 1999). Moved to the genus Rhinotropis in the FNA (2021, vol. 10) treatment.
Conservation Status
Review Date2000-06-12
Change Date2001-06-06
Edition Date1988-12-07
Edition AuthorsJoyal, E. (rev. 3/94, A. Wildman)
Range Extent20,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 8000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Range Extent Comments
USA, s & e central CA (e Inyo & Lassen Cos.), NV (Nye Co.), nw AZ (Mohave Co., 5000') & w CO, possibly also from UT & NM.
Occurrences Comments
Estimate, NVHP has var. heterorhyncha as S3 and USESA as 3C.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

The bright pink flower has 5 sepals of which 3 are minute and 2 are large, resembling the wing petals of legumes. Two of the lower petals are united to form a keel, into which the stamens and styles are neatly tucked away (Weber and Wittmann 2006.)

Habitat

Gravelly washes, sagebrush scrub, 4500' (var. s.); alkaline calcareous hills, shadscale scrub, 3000-4000' (var. h.).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaSNRYes
ColoradoS2Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
UtahS3Yes
CaliforniaS3Yes
NevadaS3Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (7)
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Chineese Camp (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,207
Grant - BrunoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,828
Pine Grove NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,749
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rough CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,476
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
References (3)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2021. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 10. Magnoliophyta: Proteaceae to Elaeagnaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 456 pp.
  2. 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.
  3. Weber, W.A. and R.C. Wittmann. 2001b. Colorado Flora: Western Slope, Third Edition. University Press of Colorado, Niwot, CO.