Astragalus zionis
| Astragalus zionis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Zion Milkvetch bloom, Zion Canyon | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. zionis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus zionis | |
| Varieties[2] | |
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Astragalus zionis is a species of legume known by the common name Zion milkvetch. It is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in Zion canyon.[3] First described by botanist Marcus E. Jones in 1895, the species has also been placed in the defunct genus Xylophacos under the name Xylophacos zionis.[2] The variety Astragalus zionis var. vigulus, the guard milkvetch, was described by Stanley Welsh in 1993.[4]
Description
[edit]
The plant's flowers are purple and its foliage is silvery. The pods are rather hairy, somewhat inflated, ovate, usually mottled, and grow up to one inch long.[3]
Distribution, habitat, and conservation
[edit]The range of Astragalus zionis extends from Zion National Park across southern Utah through Glen Canyon to San Juan County, at altitudes of 970 to 2200 meters.[5] It is found on rocky slopes throughout Zion canyon.[3]
Astragalus zionis var. vigulus is considered a Critically Imperiled Plant by the Untied States Forestry Service and a Critically Imperiled Variety by NatureServe, but is not listed under the Endangered Species Act.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ NatureServe (1 November 2024). "Astragalus zionis". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Astragalus zionis M.E.Jones". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Nelson, Ruth Ashton (1976). Plants of Zion National Park. Springdale, Utah, USA: Zion Natural History Association. pp. 152. ISBN 0-915630-01-X.
- ^ Welsh, Stanley (1993). "New taxa and new nomenclatural combinations in the Utah flora". Rhodora. 95 (883): 404 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Albee, Beverly J.; Leila M. Sjultz; Sherel Goodrich (1988). Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: The Utah Museum of Natural History. p. 293. ISBN 0-940378-09-4.
- ^ "Astragalus zionis var. vigulus, guard milkvetch". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ NatureServe (1 November 2024). "Astragalus zionis var. vigulus". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 24 October 2024.