Astragalus claranus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astragalus claranus |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Astragalus
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| Species: |
claranus
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Astragalus claranus is a very rare plant known as Clara Hunt's milkvetch or Napa milkvetch. It's a type of milkvetch. This plant grows only in northern California. It is found in just a few spots along the border between Sonoma and Napa Counties. Because it is so rare, it is listed as an endangered species by the government.
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is an annual herb, which means it lives for only one year. It has thin stems covered in tiny, rough hairs. The plant can grow up to about 12 centimeters (almost 5 inches) tall.
Its small leaves are made up of a few pairs of oval-shaped leaflets. The flowers grow in small clusters, with two to seven flowers in each group. Each flower is about 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) long. They have white petals with bright, deep purple tips.
After the flowers, the plant produces a thin, papery seed pod. This pod is called a legume. It is about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long and gets narrower at both ends. The pod feels hairy and has a sharp point at one end.
How It Got Its Name
The scientist Willis Linn Jepson first described this plant in 1925. He named it after Clara Adele Pike Blodgett Hunt. She was a schoolteacher and a plant enthusiast from California.
When Jepson first wrote the plant's name, he spelled it clarianus. However, there are special rules for naming plants. These rules say that if a person's name ends with a vowel, you should not add an "i" before the "-anus" part of the name. So, the official plant naming group changed the spelling to claranus.
Why Is It Endangered?
This rare plant faces many dangers that make it hard for it to survive. Here are some of the main threats:
- Invasive plants: Other plants that don't belong in the area can grow quickly and take over the milkvetch's space.
- New buildings: As towns and cities grow, new buildings and roads are built where the milkvetch used to live.
- Grape farms: Many vineyards (grape farms) are being started in its habitat.
- Animals eating plants: Animals like cows or sheep can eat the milkvetch.
- Being stepped on: People or animals walking through its habitat can accidentally step on and damage the plants.
- Water changes: Changes in how water flows or where it goes can harm the plant's environment.
- Outdoor activities: People doing fun activities like hiking can sometimes disturb the plant's home.
- Road and airport work: Work done to maintain roads and airports can also affect the areas where the milkvetch grows.
All these things make it very difficult for Clara Hunt's milkvetch to thrive and grow.
See also
In Spanish: Astragalus clarianus para niños
