Taxon Report
Astragalus pycnostachyus Gray var. lanosissimus (Rydb.) Munz & McBurn.Ventura Marsh milk-vetch |
 © 2007 Nicholas Jensen |
Taxon Summary
Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus, commonly known as Ventura Marsh milk-vetch, is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub, Marshes and swamps (edges, coastal salt, and brackish), growing at elevations from 1 to 35 meters. Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.Classification
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Scientific Name: |
Astragalus pycnostachyus Gray var. lanosissimus (Rydb.) Munz & McBurn. |
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Common Name: |
Ventura Marsh milk-vetch |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Element Code: | PDFAB0F7B1 |
| USDA Plants Symbol: | ASPYL |
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Synonyms/Other Names: |
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Ecology and Life History
| Lifeform: | perennial herb |
| Blooming Period: (Jun)Aug-Oct | (Jun)Aug-Oct |
| Elevation: | 1-35 (5-115) |
| General Habitats: | Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub, Marshes and swamps |
| Microhabitat: | |
| Microhabitat Details: |
Conservation Status
| CA Rare Plant Rank: | 1B.1 |
| Global Rank: | G2T1 |
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State Rank: |
S1 |
| State List: | CE |
| Fed List: | FE |
| Other Status: | SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG |
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CRPR Changes: |
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Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
| Total Occurrences: | 7 |
| Element Occurrence Ranks: | |
| Excellent (A) | 0 |
| Good (B) | 0 |
| Fair (C) | 0 |
| Poor (D) | 1 |
| None (X) | 6 |
| Unknown (U) | 0 |
| California Endemic: True | |
| California Counties and Islands: Name (Code) | |
| Los Angeles (LAX)*, Orange (ORA)*, Ventura (VEN) | |
| Quads: Name (Quad Code) | |
| Beverly Hills (3411814), Oxnard (3411922), Pitas Point (3411934), Saticoy (3411932), Seal Beach (3311861)*, Topanga (3411815)*, Venice (3311884)*, Ventura (3411933)* | |
Threat List Data from the CNDDB
| Threat List Total: | 6 | |
| EOs with Threat Listed: | Total EOs | % of EOs |
| 1 | 14 % | |
| Development | 1 | 14% |
| Foot traffic/trampling | 1 | 14% |
| Non-native plant impacts | 1 | 14% |
| Other | 1 | 14% |
| Over-collecting/poaching | 1 | 14% |
| Pollution | 1 | 14% |
Notes
| Rediscovered near Oxnard in 1997. Experimental reintroductions underway as of 2003. |
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Threats: |
| Threatened by development, herbivory, cucumber mosaic virus, non-native plants, and hydrological alterations. |
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Taxonomy: |
| See North American Flora 24:357-358 (1929) for original description, and Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 13:813 (1964) for taxonomic treatment. |
Selected References
| Ventura Marsh Milk-Vetch (Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus) Recovery Plan (USFWS 2023) |
| Ventura Marsh Milk-Vetch (Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus) Species Status Assessment |
Citation
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 8 November 2025].