Ash Meadows milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ash Meadows milkvetch |
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Astragalus phoenix, also called the Ash Meadows milkvetch, is a very rare type of milkvetch plant. It grows only in Nye County, in the southwestern part of Nevada. This means it is endemic to that specific area, found nowhere else in the world.
Where the Ash Meadows Milkvetch Lives
This special plant lives only in a place called Ash Meadows. This area is a desert oasis, which is like a green spot with water in the middle of a dry desert. It is also a wildlife refuge, a protected area for plants and animals. Ash Meadows is part of the Amargosa Desert.
The Ash Meadows milkvetch grows in a very unique environment. Its home is made of white, flat areas and dry riverbeds called washes. This is a wetland area, meaning it has a lot of water.
The water comes from underground springs and small wet spots called seeps. When this water dries up, it leaves behind a hard, mineral layer on the ground. The Ash Meadows milkvetch needs this specific type of ground to grow.
You can find this plant in about 13 different spots within an area that is about seven miles long and three miles wide. It only grows in places where the ground has not been disturbed.
Many other rare plants and animals also live in the Ash Meadows and Amargosa Valley area. Some other plants found here include saltgrass, shadscale, and alkali goldenbush.
What the Ash Meadows Milkvetch Looks Like
The Ash Meadows milkvetch is a plant that lives for many years, called a perennial herb. It grows low to the ground, forming a flat shape or a mat. This mat can spread out up to about 0.5 meters (about 1.6 feet) wide.
When the plant blooms, it produces a group of flowers called an inflorescence. Each plant has one or two pink or purple flowers.
These flowers are pollinated by bees. Bees from the group Anthophora are especially important for this plant. They seem to prefer the Ash Meadows milkvetch even when other flowers are available nearby.
Protecting the Ash Meadows Milkvetch
The Ash Meadows milkvetch is a threatened species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. The United States government has listed it as a protected species.
The biggest danger to this plant is harm to its special home. Changes in the way water flows in the region can hurt the plant. For example, if people pump too much water from underground, it can affect the springs and seeps that feed the plant's habitat.
Other activities also threaten the Ash Meadows milkvetch. Building roads, mining for minerals, and farming have all caused the number of these plants to go down. Protecting its unique wetland home is very important for the survival of this rare plant.
