Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Alpine Milkvetch

Astragalus alpinus

L.

Alpine Milkvetch

G5Secure Found in 98 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129847
Element CodePDFAB0F0D0
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
alpine milkvetch (EN) Astragale alpin (FR)
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 Date2025-06-19
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2025-06-19
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Astragalus alpinus is a wide-ranging perennial herb occurring at high latitudes and altitudes across much of the northern hemisphere in North America, Greenland, and Eurasia. With a large range extent, more than 1200 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Astragalus alpinus is found at high latitudes and altitudes throughout the northern hemisphere in North America, Greenland, and Eurasia (FNA 2023). In North America, it is widespread in Alaska, Canada, northern New England, and the Rocky Mountains. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025). See individual entries for distribution details about the two varieties.¿
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be more than 1200 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to this species in at least part of its range include habitat alteration such as disturbance to shorelines, human activity, tree plantings, artificially raising or stabilizing water levels and herbicide application (Zager and Lease 2004).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Astragalus alpinus grows in arctic and alpine tundra, heath, woods, moraines, gravelly roadsides, stream banks, riverbeds, terraces, rocky shores, ledges near high water, and gravel bars, on schist, limestone, and sandstone (FNA 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandAlpineTundra
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Island of NewfoundlandS2Yes
LabradorS3Yes
ManitobaS4Yes
NunavutS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS5Yes
QuebecSNRYes
OntarioS5Yes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
New BrunswickS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
IdahoSNRYes
WyomingS5Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
MaineS3Yes
NevadaS2Yes
South DakotaSNRYes
MinnesotaS1Yes
WisconsinS1Yes
AlaskaSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
VermontSHYes
New MexicoSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
UtahS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknown—
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureUnknownUnknown—
2.2 - Wood & pulp plantationsUnknownUnknown—
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownUnknown—
7.2 - Dams & water management/useUnknownUnknown—
9 - PollutionUnknownUnknown—
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsUnknownUnknown—
9.3.3 - Herbicides and pesticidesUnknownUnknown—

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (98)
Alaska (16)
AreaForestAcres
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
Brabazon AdditionTongass National Forest498,819
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Colorado (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Idaho (5)
AreaForestAcres
Boulder - White CloudsSalmon-Challis National Forest139,297
Boulder - White CloudsSawtooth National Forest322,653
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Montana (27)
AreaForestAcres
BeartoothGallatin National Forest5,285
Big BaldyLewis and Clark National Forest43,135
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Burnt MountainCuster National Forest10,698
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Camas CreekHelena National Forest29,191
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Electric PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest17,997
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Lazyman GulchHelena National Forest11,614
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. BaldyHelena National Forest16,362
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Mt. Hefty Ra 1481Flathead National Forest12,938
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
O'Neil CreekBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest6,279
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
ReefGallatin National Forest2,500
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
Stony MountainBitterroot National Forest44,057
Storm LakeBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest9,324
Nevada (2)
AreaForestAcres
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Washington (3)
AreaForestAcres
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
TiffanyOkanogan National Forest22,045
Wyoming (36)
AreaForestAcres
Bear RocksBighorn National Forest25,023
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Bruce MountainBighorn National Forest5,417
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Grommund CreekBighorn National Forest12,089
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Hideout CreekBighorn National Forest10,096
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Illinois CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,711
Laramie PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest28,608
Leigh CreekBighorn National Forest19,180
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Little Sheep MountainBridger-Teton National Forest14,192
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Monument RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest17,720
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
Munger MountainBridger-Teton National Forest12,827
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
Platte River AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,962
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Savage Run AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest2,368
Sibley LakeBighorn National Forest10,367
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (7)
  1. 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.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. 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.
  5. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  7. Zager, S. and K. Lease. 2004. Contract to develop 17 EO Specs. Wildlands Ecological Services, Maplewood, MN.