SHIVWITZ MILK VETCH } Astragulus ampullarioides
FAMILY:
Fabaceae
HABITAT: Populations of the Shivwitz milk vetch are found at elevations of 3,018 to 4,367 feet upon sparsely vegetated, isolated patches of purple-hued soft clay soil.
RANGE: All currently known six locations of the Shivwitz milk vetch occur within Washington County, Utah, near St. George.
LIFE CYCLE: The Shivwitz milk vetch is a perennial herb with a possible lifespan of nine years. Flowering occurs between April and late May. By the end of June the plant dries up; vestiges of dried plants may persist for several months. Perennial rootstock allows the Shivwitz milk vetch to survive dry years; in a drought year the plant may not emerge, instead remaining dormant.
THREATS: Urban development, off-road vehicle use, grazing, displacement by invasive plants, and mineral development all threaten the Shivwitz milk vetch.
POPULATION TREND: Shivwitz milk vetch populations are declining.