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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).