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Astragalus toquimanus

Barneby

Toquima Milkvetch

G2Imperiled Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133555
Element CodePDFAB0F900
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusAstragalus
Other Common Names
Toquima 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 Date2025-07-17
Change Date1991-04-12
Edition Date2025-07-17
Edition AuthorsBroaddus, Lynn (1991), rev. A. Olivero (2003), rev. Treher (2016), rev. Johnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Astragalus toquimanus is a perennial herb known only from the Monitor, Toquima, Hot Creek, and Grant ranges in central Nye County, Nevada, United States, where occurrences are uncommon and widely scattered. The plants grow within shrubs, which protects them somewhat from grazing but makes them difficult to find.
Range Extent Comments
Astragalus toquimanus is endemic to central Nye County, Nevada, in the Western United States. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 17 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
While most of the habitat for Astragalus toquimanus is grazed by cattle, the plants prefer to grow in sheltered spots, such as dead or live sagebrush, and are probably not threatened by direct consumption (Johnson, pers comm. 2025) The greater threat is likely the increased risk of invasive species introduction and wildfire caused by grazing. Camping and off-road vehicle recreation near the towns of Manhattan and Belmont has caused the loss of at least one occurrence and may impact other nearby occurrences.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Astragalus toquimanus grows in gravelly, calcareous substrates in pinyon-juniper and sagebrush communities, usually under or twining up through sagebrush (FNA 2024, Johnson pers. comm. 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areasSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculturePervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (7)
Nevada (7)
AreaForestAcres
AntelopeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,632
Georges CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest108,551
Grant - Burnt CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest126
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
SaulsburyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,957
Spanish PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest31,520
Warm SpringsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest29,540
References (11)
  1. Barneby, R.C. 1964. Atlas of North American Astragalus. 2 Vols. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 1188 pp.
  2. Barneby, R.C. 1989. Fabales. In A. Cronquist, A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren (eds.). Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 3, Part B. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 279 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  5. Johnson, J. 2025. Personal communication regarding Astragalus toquimanus surveys.
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Ph.D. dissertation. Univ. of Nevada, Reno. 3 volumes. 1729 pp.
  7. 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.
  8. Mozingo, H.N., and M. Williams. 1980. The threatened and endangered plants of Nevada. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management, Portland, OR. 268 pp.
  9. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  10. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  11. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).