Astragalus missouriensis var. mimetes Barneby

  • Authors

    Rupert C. Barneby

  • Authority

    Barneby, Rupert C. 1964. Atlas of North American Astragalus. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 13(2): 597-1188.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Astragalus missouriensis var. mimetes Barneby

  • Type

    New Mexico: Laguna, Valencia County, 5800 ft., September 6, 1956, Barneby 12,981. Holotypus, CAS! isotypi, NY, RSA!

  • Description

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    Latin Diagnosis - a var. missouriensi floribus multo minoribus (calyce ± 5-6 mm., vexillo 9.5-11.8 mm., carina ± 9-10.5 mm. longis) absimilis.

    Species Description - Growth-habit wholly of var. missouriensis, but differing in the flower, this nearly identical in form but greatly reduced in size; calyx 5-5.8 mm. long, the tube 4.1—4.8 mm. long, 2.3-2.8 mm. in diameter, the teeth 0.7-1.1 mm. long; petals bright pink-purple; banner 9.5-11.8 mm. long, 6.6-9 mm. wide; wings 9.4-10.8 mm. long, the claws 3.6-4.8 mm., the blades 6.5-7.3 mm. long, 1.7-2.6 mm. wide; keel 8.9-10.6 mm. long, the claws 3.6-5 mm., the blades 5.4—6.3 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide; pod as in var. missouriensis, 1.4-2.4 cm. long, 5-7.5 (9) mm. in diameter; ovules 36-46.

    Distribution and Ecology - Low gravelly hills, stony washes, and arid clay banks, with Larrea or junipers, 4600-5800 feet, known only from the west side of the Rio Grande Valley in eastern Valencia and western Socorro Counties, New Mexico.—Map No. 94.— April to May, sometimes again in fall.

  • Discussion

    The var. mimetes is a neatly attractive little astragalus, differing from the widespread var. missouriensis in the much smaller flower. It is of theoretical interest because it forms a link between its species and A. accumbens, and furnishes evidence bearing on the problem of the latter s origin and relationships. This point is discussed under the next species. The variety, first collected at Laguna in 1884 by J. G. Lemmon (GH), has been confused consistently with A. accumbens, a species differing in its yet smaller flower, more abruptly incurved petals, and shorter, fewer-ovulate pod.

  • Objects

    Specimen - 01262148, W. W. Eggleston 16244, Astragalus missouriensis var. mimetes Barneby, Fabaceae (152.0), Magnoliophyta; North America, United States of America, New Mexico, Socorro Co.

  • Distribution

    New Mexico United States of America North America|