Taxon Report

Astragalus lentiginosus Hook. var. sierrae Jones

Big Bear Valley milk-vetch

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Taxon Summary

Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae, commonly known as Big Bear Valley milk-vetch, is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1800 to 2600 meters. Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Astragalus lentiginosus Hook. var. sierrae Jones
Common Name:	Big Bear Valley milk-vetch
Family:	Fabaceae
Element Code:	PDFAB0FB9L
USDA Plants Symbol:	ASLES5
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Aug	Apr-Aug
Elevation:	1800-2600 (5905-8530)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps, Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Gravelly (sometimes), Rocky (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G5T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	68
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	2
Good (B)	5
Fair (C)	12
Poor (D)	4
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	45

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bear City (3411637), Big Bear Lake (3411628), Butler Peak (3411731), Fawnskin (3411638), Moonridge (3411627), Onyx Peak (3411626), Rattlesnake Canyon (3411636)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	11
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	22	32 %
ORV activity	11	16%
Foot traffic/trampling	7	10%
Mining	6	8%
Road/trail construction/maint.	6	8%
Logging	3	4%
Non-native plant impacts	3	4%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	3	4%
Development	2	2%
Erosion/runoff	1	1%
Grazing	1	1%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	1%

Notes



Known only from Big Bear Valley and the Baldwin Lake region. See Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 13:925 (1964) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Threatened by urbanization, illegal dumping, mining, road construction, vegetation/fuel management activities, road maintenance, and recreational activities.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Revision of North American Species of Astragalus, p. 124 (1923)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2026. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 14 June 2026].