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Astragalus cremnophylax var. hevronii
Astragalus cremnophylax Barneby var. hevronii Barneby
Hevron's Milkvetch, Marble Canyon Cliff Milkvetch, Marble Canyon Sentry Milkvetch, Sentry Milkvetch
Fabaceae (Pea family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ASCRH
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
"Resembling A. c. var. myriorrhapis Barneby in stiffly ascending leaf-rachises but the flowers larger, the further exserted banner 7-8 x 5.4-6 (not 3.7-6.3 x 4-4.6) mm, the keel 5.2-5.7 (not 3.7-4.5) mm." (reslit: 2897). "Dwarf plant, evergreen, perennial herb, forming a mat less than 1.5 cm high, and (2-)2.5-16 cm [(0.8-)1-6.3 in] in diameter. Short creeping stems 1.2 cm long with 5-9 compound leaflets with dolabriform hairs; leaf bases produced in the fall disjoint readily when dry, leaving the rachis as a stiff, upright spinescent structure. The relatively large and bright flowers are pale purplish-lilac and usually held slightly above the mat; exserted banners 7-8 x 4.4-6 mm, the keel 5.2-5.4 mm. Fruit is unilocular, obliquely egg-shaped, and densely hairy; seeds orange." (webref: 58).
"Marble Canyon milkvetch is a dwarf, evergreen, perennial herb, forming a mat less than 1.5 cm high and up to 16 cm in diameter (Mikesic and Roth 2008). The flowers, which are produced in April and May, are purplish-lilac and are usually held slightly above the mat. It grows on Kaibab Limestone benches, in crevices and depressions with shallow soils (Arizona Rare Plant Committee 2001). Threats to this species include trampling by visitors at scenic overlooks, damage from livestock, illegal collecting, climate variability, and natural erosional processes (Roth 2007).." (webref: 60).
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: "Short creeping stems 1.2 cm long." (webref: 58).
Leaf: "5-9 compound leaflets with dolabriform hairs; leaf bases produced in the fall disjoint readily when dry, leaving the rachis as a stiff, upright spinescent structure." (webref: 58).
Flower: "The relatively large and bright flowers are pale purplish-lilac and usually held slightly above the mat; exserted banners 7-8 x 4.4-6 mm, the keel 5.2-5.4 mm." (webref: 58).
Fruit: "Fruit is unilocular, obliquely egg-shaped, and densely hairy; seeds orange." (webref: 58). "Fruiting May to June." (webref: 58).
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Purple , VioletBloom Time: Apr , May
Bloom Notes: "Flowers are purplish-lilac." (webref: 60). "Flowering late April to May." (webref: 58).
Distribution
USA: AZNative Distribution: "Highly localized on the east rim of Marble Canyon of the Colorado River between 36°29'N and 36°31'N in Coconino County, Arizona." (reslit: 2897).
Native Habitat: "In crevices of Kaibab limestone at ±1560 m." (reslit: 2897).
Web Reference
Webref 58 - Arizona’s Natural Heritage Program: Heritage Data Management System - HDMS (2020) Arizona Game & Fish DepartmentWebref 60 - Marble Canyon Milkvetch(Astragalus cremnophylax var. hevronii)Monitoring ReportRedwall Monitoring Site1997-2011 (2011) Navaho Nation Fish & Wildlife Department
Research Literature
Reslit 2897 - Centennial Beans: A Miscellany of American Fabales (1992) Barneby, Rupert C.This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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Additional resources
USDA: Find Astragalus cremnophylax var. hevronii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Astragalus cremnophylax var. hevronii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Astragalus cremnophylax var. hevronii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2020-12-07Research By: Joseph A. Marcus