Astragalus tener
Encyclopedia
Astragalus tener is a species of milkvetch
known by the common name alkali milkvetch. It is endemic to California
, where it grows in both coastal and inland areas such as the Central Valley, especially in moist places.
is a dense cluster of pinkish-purple white-smudged flowers. The fruit is a narrow legume pod up to five centimeters long and usually containing two smooth seeds.
treated as an endangered species
on the federal level. It is probably now limited to coastal Monterey County
, having been extirpated
from its previous range in southern California.
An example occurrence of Astragalus tener is within the two extant forests of Monterey Cypress, Cupressus Macrocarpus, in Monterey County, California.
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 alkali milkvetch. It is endemic to 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...
, where it grows in both coastal and inland areas such as the Central Valley, especially in moist places.
Description
This is an annual herb producing upright stems up to 30 centimeters tall. The leaves are up to nine centimeters in length and made up of several lance-shaped to oval leaflets. The 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...
is a dense cluster of pinkish-purple white-smudged flowers. The fruit is a narrow legume pod up to five centimeters long and usually containing two smooth seeds.
Varieties
There are three varieties of this species. One, the coastal dunes milkvetch, Astragalus tener var. titi, is a rare plantRare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
treated as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
on the federal level. It is probably now limited to coastal Monterey County
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, having been extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
from its previous range in southern California.
An example occurrence of Astragalus tener is within the two extant forests of Monterey Cypress, Cupressus Macrocarpus, in Monterey County, California.