Species Details

Astragalus austiniae

Austin's astragalus

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Species Description:

Astragalus austiniae, commonly known as Austin's astragalus, is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Alpine boulder and rock field, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 2440 to 2970 meters. Astragalus austiniae is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Astragalus austiniae A. Gray
Common Name: Austin's astragalus
Family:	Fabaceae
Element Code:	PDFAB0F120
USDA Plants Symbol:	ASAU
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEP, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G2G3
State Rank:	S2S3
Other Status:	SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes: changed from CBR to 1B.3 on 2013-12-04
Add Date:	2013-12-04
Date Edited:	2023-05-02

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: (May)Jul-Sep

Elevation:
2440 - 2970 meters
8005 - 9745 feet

General Habitats:

Alpine boulder and rock field
Subalpine coniferous forest

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Rocky

Notes

Notes: Previously CBR as being too common; rarer than originally throught. Known in CA only from the Lake Tahoe region. Similar to A. andersonii. See Geological Survey of California, Botany 1:156 (1876) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	2
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	2	15 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	15%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	15%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					13
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	1	0	0	0	12

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	5
Recent <=20 Years	8

Presence:
Presumed Extant	13
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Nevada (NV)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alpine (ALP), El Dorado (ELD), Nevada (NEV), Placer (PLA)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Echo Lake (3812071), Emerald Bay (3812081), Granite Chief (3912023), Independence Lake (3912043), Norden (3912033), South Lake Tahoe (3811988), Tragedy Spring (3812062), Webber Peak (3912044)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory