Home/Species/ Pretty Milkvetch

Astragalus eucosmus

B.L. Robins.

Pretty Milkvetch

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

UnknownThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129123

Element CodePDFAB0F3B0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderFabales

FamilyFabaceae

GenusAstragalus

Other Common Names

Astragale élégant (FR) Elegant Milkvetch (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.

Conservation Status

Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2024-04-26

Change Date1985-09-06

Edition Date2024-04-26

Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)

Threat ImpactUnknown

Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences81 - 300

Rank Reasons

Astragalus eucosmus is a circumpolar perennial herb occurring in northern North America, the Rockies, and the Russian Far East in Asia. With a large range extent, over 230 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.

Range Extent Comments

Astragalus eucosmus has a circumpolar distribution, occurring across northern North America and the Rockies and the Russian Far East in Asia, including all Canadian provinces except Nova Scotia, and the United States in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming (FNA 2023).

Occurrences Comments

By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1983 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 230 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).

Threat Impact Comments

Although threats are not widely documented, Astragalus eucosmus is potentially threatened by development, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Astragalus eucosmus grows in "arctic and alpine tundra, heathlands, thickets, woodlands, sandy or gravelly bars and terraces" (FNA 2023).

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest - MixedWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousAlpineTundra

Other Nations (2)

United StatesN4

Province	Rank	Native
Maine	SX	Yes
Alaska	SNR	Yes
Idaho	S3	Yes
Wyoming	S4	Yes
Montana	S3	Yes
Washington	SNR	Yes
Colorado	S3	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Alberta	S4	Yes
Island of Newfoundland	S3	Yes
Labrador	S3	Yes
New Brunswick	S2	Yes
Yukon Territory	S4	Yes
Quebec	S4	Yes
Nunavut	S3	Yes
Saskatchewan	S4	Yes
Manitoba	S3	Yes
Northwest Territories	S4	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Ontario	S4	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
Unknown/undetermined	—	—	—

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)Yes

Roadless Areas (3)

Montana (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Crazy Mountain	Gallatin National Forest	82,093
Line Creek Plateau	Custer National Forest	24,825

Wyoming (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Beartooth Proposed Wilderness	Shoshone National Forest	16,837

References (2)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 11. Magnoliophyta: Fabaceae, parts 1+2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvii + 1108 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.

Astragalus eucosmus

Habitat

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