Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Big Bear Valley Woollypod

Astragalus leucolobus

S. Wats. ex M.E. Jones

Big Bear Valley Woollypod

G2Imperiled Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144273
Element CodePDFAB0F4T0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusAstragalus
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
Review Date2016-11-30
Change Date1988-03-08
Edition Date2005-07-01
Edition AuthorsBittman, R.L.; rev. R. Bittman 2005
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Astragalus leucolobus is endemic to California and is known from about 35 extant occurrences and about 3500 plants. Off-the-road vehicle use and urbanization are threats; this species does not recover well from disturbance.
Range Extent Comments
San Bernardino, San Antonio and Santa Rosa Mountains, California. Some outlying populations which may or may not be misidentified include a few desert sites, San Benito Co. and Anacapa Island. Just the main Big Bear area encompasses about 415 sq. mi. Including more of the populations increases this estimate to 19,000 sq mi.
Occurrences Comments
35 total EO's known in 2005 at CNDDB, but 11 are historical.
Threat Impact Comments
Threatened by urbanization (development) and off-the-road vehicles (CNPS 2001, CNDDB 2003). Other threats include woodcutting, mining, vandalism, recreational activities and possibly burros (CNDDB 2003). 2005 update: The major threats are definitely development and ORV activity. ORV's actually destroy this plant's Pebble Plains habitat and it does not recuperate in any reasonable time period human's relate to (thousands of years perhaps?). The Big Bear area, the central part of Astragalus leucolobus's distribution, is a major vacation spot for southern Californians and is still developing. However, many populations are on USFS lands which are reasonably secure at the moment.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Openings, including Pebble Plains in yellow pine forest and sagebrush scrub, 6600-7800 ft.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferShrubland/chaparralBarrens
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS2Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (6)
California (6)
AreaForestAcres
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest4,455
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
References (3)
  1. California Department of Fish and Game. 2000. Natural Diversity Database (RareFind 2), Version 2.1.2, January 25, 2000. Downloaded in 2003.
  2. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388pp.
  3. 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.