Astragalus cimae
Encyclopedia
Astragalus cimae is a species of milkvetch
known by the common name Cima milkvetch. It is native to the Mojave Desert
and its sky island
woodlands of eastern California
western Nevada
, especially on calcareous soils
, including the Cima Dome
area in the Mojave National Preserve
.
of up to 25 flowers with reddish or pinkish purple petals sometimes tipped with white. Each flower is between 1 and 1.5 centimeters long. The fruit is a legume pod with usually two inflated chambers.
Astragalus
Astragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
known by the common name Cima milkvetch. It is native to the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
and its sky island
Sky island
Sky islands are mountains that are isolated by surrounding lowlands of a dramatically different environment, a situation which, in combination with the altitudinal zonation of ecosystems, has significant implications for natural habitats. Endemism, vertical migration, and relict populations are...
woodlands of eastern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
western Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, especially on calcareous soils
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, including the Cima Dome
Cima Dome & Volcanic Field National Natural Landmark
The Cima Dome & Volcanic Field National Natural Landmark, or Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark, includes the Cima Dome, Cima Volcanic Field, and Cima Volcanic Range, and is in the Mojave Desert within San Bernardino County, California, United States.The dome and volcanic field with cinder...
area in the Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve is located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, USA, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. The preserve was established October 31, 1994 with the passage of the California Desert Protection Act by the US Congress...
.
Description
Astragalus cimae is a spreading perennial herb with somewhat fleshy stems up to about 25 centimeters long. Leaves are up to 11 centimeters long and made up of oval or rounded leaflets. The plant bears an inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
of up to 25 flowers with reddish or pinkish purple petals sometimes tipped with white. Each flower is between 1 and 1.5 centimeters long. The fruit is a legume pod with usually two inflated chambers.