Astragalus desperatus

Astragalus desperatus (common name - rimrock milkvetch)[1] is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[3]: 120 

Astragalus desperatus

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. desperatus
Binomial name
Astragalus desperatus
Varieties[2]
  • Astragalus desperatus var. conspectus Barneby
  • Astragalus desperatus var. desperatus
  • Astragalus desperatus var. neeseae Barneby
  • Astragalus desperatus var. petrophilus M.E.Jones
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Astragalus barnebyi S.L.Welsh & N.D.Atwood (1975)
    • Astragalus desperatus var. typicus Barneby (1948)
    • Astragalus equisolensis Neese & S.L.Welsh (1981)
    • Batidophaca despelata (M.E.Jones) Rydb. (1929)
    • Batidophaca petrophila (M.E.Jones) Rydb. (1929)
    • Tium desperatum (M.E.Jones) Rydb. (1905)

Description

Growth pattern

It is a low growing perennial plant growing from 1⁄2 to 4+1⁄2 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) tall.[3]: 120 

Leaves and stems

Compound pinnate leaves are from 1⁄2 to 4+1⁄2 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) long, with 7–17 elliptical to inversely lanceolate leaflets.[3]: 120 

Inflorescence and fruit

It blooms from March to August.[3]: 120  The inflorescence are from stalk to 5 inches (13 cm) tall, with multiple flowers on short stems from the stalk.[3]: 120  Each ink to purple flower has a calyx tube that is bell-shaped and up to 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) long, and petals to 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) long.[3]: 120  Seed pods are up to 3⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) long, elliptical or curved, and covered with stiff hairs.[3]: 120 

Habitat and range

It grows only on the Colorado Plateau (endemic) in mixed desert shrub and pinyon-juniper forest communities.[3]: 120 

References
  1. NatureServe (2024). "Astragalus desperatus". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  2. "Astragalus desperatus M.E.Jones". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7
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