Astragalus debequaeus
| Astragalus debequaeus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| With a few flowers and many pods | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. debequaeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus debequaeus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Astragalus debequaeus, the DeBeque milkvetch, is a rare species in the pea family from western Colorado.
Description
The DeBeque milkvetch is a perennial species that forms a clump of closely packed hairless stems 14 to 30 centimeters (5.5–11.8 in) tall.[3] Each clump ranges in size from 20 to 100 centimeters (8–39 in) across and has a woody taproot topped by a branching caudex.[4] The stems can lay on the soil surface or curve to grow upwards.[3]
The compound leaves are 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) long and have 13 to 21 leaflets with one leaflet attached to the end of the leaf.[4]
The flowers have white petals and are 1.7 to 2.1 cm.[3]
Its fruits are inflated pods that are 1.5–2.3 cm long and 0.6–1.1 cm wide, containing 20 to 38 seeds.[3]
Taxonomy
The botanist Stanley Larson Welsh scientifically described a new species in 1985 which he named Astragalus debequaeus. It is part of the genus Astragalus which is classified in the Fabaceae family. It has no accepted varieties, but was described by Duane Isely as a variety of Astragalus eastwoodiae in 1998.[2]
Both the scientific name Astragalus debequaeus and the common name DeBeque milkvetch refer to the town of DeBeque, near where it was discovered.[5] The name is also spelled as Debeque milkvetch.[6]
Range and habitat
DeBeque milkvetch is a narrow endemic only native to Mesa, Garfield, and Delta counties in western Colorado. There it is found in 24 locations near the town of DeBeque in the Colorado River drainage.[1] There it grows on fine soils that are high in selenium or salt at elevations of 1,600–2,000 meters (5,200–6,600 ft).[3]
References
Citations
- 1 2 NatureServe 2026.
- 1 2 POWO 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Welsh 2025.
- 1 2 Welsh 1985, p. 31.
- ↑ Jennings 1989, p. 26.
- ↑ NRCS 2026.
Sources
Books
- Jennings, William F. (1989). Von Bargen, Eleanor; Borland, James F.; Denham, Miriam L.; Galatowitsch, Susan M.; O'Kane, Steve L.; Martin, Susan S.; Moorhead, Carol Ann; Naumann, Tamara S.; Richards, Velma; Steinkamp, Myrna P. (eds.). Rare Plants of Colorado (First ed.). Estes Park, Colorado: The Colorado Native Plant Society in cooperation with Rocky Mountain Nature Association. ISBN 978-0-930487-21-8. OCLC 20317816. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
Journal articles
- Welsh, Stanley L. (31 January 1985). "New species of Astragalus (Leguminosae) from Mesa County, Colorado". Great Basin Naturalist. 45 (1) 4. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
Web sources
- NatureServe (3 April 2026). "Astragalus debequaeus". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- NRCS (2026). "Astragalus debequaeus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- POWO (2026). "Astragalus debequaeus S.L.Welsh". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- Welsh, Stanley L. (2025) [In print 2023]. "Astragalus debequaeus". Flora of North America. ISBN 978-0-19-761980-3. OCLC 1396754367. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
External links
