Schmoll's milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schmoll's milkvetch |
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Astragalus schmolliae, also called Schmoll's milkvetch, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the legume family, which includes peas and beans. This plant is special because it only grows in one small area. You can find it only in Montezuma County, Colorado, in the United States. Specifically, it lives on Chapin Mesa inside Mesa Verde National Park.
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About Schmoll's Milkvetch
What it Looks Like
Schmoll's milkvetch is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows about 40 to 60 centimeters (16 to 24 inches) tall. Its leaves are made of many long, thin parts called leaflets.
In May, this plant blooms with pretty flowers. They are usually cream-colored or yellowish. After the flowers, the plant grows a fruit. This fruit is a tough, leathery legume pod.
Where it Lives
Schmoll's milkvetch grows in a special kind of habitat called a mesa. A mesa is a flat-topped hill with steep sides. This plant's home is very small. It only grows on Chapin Mesa. It has not spread to other mesas nearby.
Even though its range is small, the plant is common there. It covers an area of about 25 square kilometers (about 9.6 square miles). Scientists have found six groups of these plants. However, two of these groups have not been seen in many years.
Protecting the Plant
Schmoll's milkvetch faces some dangers. One big threat is invasive plants. These are plants that are not native to the area. They can take over and harm the native plants. Examples include musk thistle and cheat grass.
Wildfires can also be a threat to the plant. A long period without rain, called a drought, can also hurt it. For example, a drought in 2002 caused the number of these plants to drop.
How it Was Discovered
The first person to collect this plant was Alice Eastwood. She found it in 1890. The plant is named after another botanist from Colorado, Hazel Schmoll. She was the second person to report finding it in 1925.
