CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii
Family: |
Fabaceae |
Common Names: |
Jesup's milkvetch, Robbins milkvetch |
Author: |
Egglest. & Sheldon |
Growth Habit: |
Perennial |
CPC
Number: |
480 |
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Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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Elizabeth J. Farnsworth contributed to this Plant Profile. |
Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii
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Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii is an extremely rare member of the bean family, found only at three sites along a 15-mile stretch of the middle Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont. This plant is found only in areas that receive periodic ice-scouring that clears competing vegetation from riverbanks. Although it has fairly specialized habitat requirements, it is somewhat surprising that the species is so rare, as it occupies very little of the potential habitat available to it. Its tenuous existence is threatened by a number of activities, like damming, that alter the hydrological and disturbance regime of a waterway; trampling by recreational boaters; and historical over-collecting that may have significantly reduced its numbers.
Research and Management Summary:
Fairly limited research has been conducted on this taxon, but populations are regularly monitored, and the New England Wild Flower Society has undertaken a reintroduction project.
Plant Description:
Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii grows 20 to 60 cm (0.65 - 2.0 ft) tall from a thick rhizome or taproot. Like many legumes, it has compound leaves, with 9 to 17 sparsely hairy leaflets each about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. Pale purple to violet flowers 1 cm across are produced in late May to mid-June, and have a papery texture. In late June, plants produce beaked legumes ("pea pods") approximately 2 cm (0.8 in) long, which are covered with small black hairs.
Distribution
& Occurrence |
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State Range
Habitat
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Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii is reported only from rocky shores of the Connecticut River composed of phyllite or chlorite schist. Like other members of the Astragalus robbinsii complex, this variety is associated with rock that is rich in calcium and magnesium (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1989, NatureServe 2001). The plants occur on moderately steep bedrock slopes that face east or southwest, in crevices and shelves where some litter and sediment has been deposited. The river shores where this plant can be found are periodically scoured by ice breaking up and floating down the Connecticut River in spring; thus, plants are sparse and few species that cannot tolerate such disturbance are present.
Other associated species recorded in this boreal river shore outcrop community include: Senecio pauperculus (ragwort), Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy), Poa compressa, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Hypericum perforatum, Solidago canadensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Erigeron pulchellus, Galium mollugo, Alnus rugosa, Ulmus americana, and Salix spp., as well as several rare or specialized calcium-loving plant species such as Allium schoenoprasum var. sibiricum, Carex garberi, Hypericum pyramidatum, and Tofieldia glutinosa. |
Distribution
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Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii is known only from Vermont and New Hampshire (Brackley and Thompson 1985, NatureServe 2001). |
Number Left
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Three populations are recorded: two in New Hampshire and one in Vermont. Plant numbers fluctuate dramatically from year to year; total observed populations have hovered between 200 and 900 plants (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1989, The Nature Conservancy [TNC], New Hampshire Chapter 2001). |
State/Area
Protection
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Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
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Ecological
Relationships
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• Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii emerges in spring from a taproot or rhizome, which may simultaneously stabilize the plants, serve as a storage organ for carbohydrates, and facilitate flood-tolerance by conducting oxygen. The plant is a rhizomatous perennial, but the extent to which it reproduces through vegetative perennation has not been assessed.
• Flowering commences in mid-May and usually ends by late May to mid-June and most fruits have been released by August (Brackley et al. 1990). According to Brackley et al. (1990), pollinators include a common bumblebee (Bombus vagans vagans) and another species of bee (Cnemidandrena hirticincta). However, the plant is also noted to be self-compatible, based on the results from pollinator-exclusion studies (Brackley et al. 1990).
• Seeds from the ripened fruits appear to sink, but dispersal distances from parent plants have not been determined. Sporadic long-distance seed dispersal may be important if the species acts as a metapopulation (a string of genetically linked, ephemeral sub-populations or demes that often occur in disturbed environments). Interestingly, some seeds germinate while still on the parent plant, if the plants are submerged during wet years (Brackley et al. 1990). Seeds will also germinate with no pre-treatment following collection (Brumback 1989).
• The best ex situ germination occurs when seeds have been lightly scarified with sandpaper, possibly mimicking the spring scouring experienced by seeds in the wild (W. E. Brumback, New England Wild Flower Society, personal communication). Seed in storage can remain viable for more than six years, but the presence of a seed bank at the New Hampshire and Vermont sites has not been confirmed. Seedlings appear to be rare in the wild.
• Deer and rodents can feed on the plants, and have eaten plants at various sites (Brackley et al. 1990). Plants also may be vulnerable to drought during especially dry summers (New Hampshire TNC 2001). |
Threats
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As articulated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1989) and NatureServe (2001):
• Altered hydrology (due to damming, engineering [Ferrick et al. 1988], naturally changing river courses, or climatic change) that results in changing ice scour patterns or timing of flood events
• Historical over-collecting for botanical collections
• Picking or vandalism of plants (reported by Brackley et al. (1990)
• Trampling by recreational boaters along the Connecticut River
• Herbivory by deer
• Incursions by invasive species that are becoming increasingly common along river banks in the area, including black swallow-wort (Cycnanchum rossicum), Japanese stilt-grass (Microstegium vimineum), and Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
• Lack of suitable habitat to support metapopulation dynamics (establishment by mobile populations)
• Inbreeding depression due to small population sizes
• Dumping or water pollution |
Current Research Summary
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• Frankie Brackley-Tolman (Keene State College, New Hampshire) and Debra Dunlop (New England College, New Hampshire) have conducted ecological field research on Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii.
• The New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS) in Framingham, Massachusetts has determined reliable methods for germinating plants. Plants at NEWFS have germinated readily and survive to flowering. However, long-term survival after flowering has been problematic. Plants are growing in the NEWFS garden.
• Phil Nothnagle (Consulting Botanist, Vermont) has also worked on propagation of the species (New Hampshire TNC 2001). |
Current Management Summary
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• The Vermont and New Hampshire Natural Heritage Programs, along with volunteer task forces of the New England Plant Conservation Program (NEWFS, Framingham, Massachusetts) and other conservation partners, regularly monitor populations of Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii
• Reintroduction of Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii has been undertaken by the New England Wild Flower Society. After several years of battling floods and drought, and developing techniques for introducing both plants and seed, this reintroduction program is gaining ground (New Hampshire TNC 2001; Brumback, personal communication).
• Natural Heritage Programs and The Nature Conservancy of both states are working to protect current and potential riverine habitat for Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii; one New Hampshire site has been protected by a conservation agreement with the landowner (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1989). |
Research Management Needs
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• Studies of the effects of herbivores on survivorship and reproduction of Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii
• Studies of the effects of invasive plant species on survivorship and reproduction of Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii
• Quantitative population viability analysis from the monitoring data collected on populations
• Studies to determine the causes of poor seedling establishment at sites |
Ex Situ Needs
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• Germination and storage techniques are relatively well-known for Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii |
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Books (Single Authors)
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Barneby, R.C. 1964. Atlas of North American Astragalus. Bronx, New York: New York Botanical Garden. 1188p.
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Gray, A.; Fernald, M.L. 1987. Gray's manual of botany: a handbook of the flowering plants and ferns of the central and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Portland, Or.: Dioscorides Press. 1632p.
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Program, Nongame and Natural Heritage. 2000. Rare and Uncommon Native Plants of Vermont. Waterbury, Vermont: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Journal Articles
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Brumback, B. 1998. Research Report. New England Wild Flower Notes. 3.
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Brumback, W.E. 1989. Notes on propagation of rare New England species. Rhodora. 91: 154-162.
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Karron, J.D. 1989. Breeding systems and levels of inbreeding depression in geographically restricted and widespread species of Astragalus (Fabaceae). American Journal of Botany. 76, 3: 331-340.
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USFWS. 1976. Proposed Endangered Status for 1700 U.S. Plants. Federal Register. 41: 24523-24572.
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USFWS. 1985. Proposal to determine Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupi (Jesup's Milk-vetch) to be an endangered species. Federal Register. 50, 244: 51718-51722.
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USFWS. 1985. Regional News--Region 5. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 10, 7: 11.
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USFWS. 1986. Jesup's Milk-vetch. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 11, 1: 1.
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USFWS. 1986. Listings Proposed for a Bird and Three Plants. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 11, 1: 1, 6-7.
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USFWS. 1987. Determination of Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupi (Jesup's Milk-vetch) to be an endangered species. Federal Register. 52, 108: 21481-21484.
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USFWS. 1987. Twelve Listings. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 12, 7: 1, 7-8.
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Westveld, M. 1956. Natural forest vegetation zones of New England. Journal of Forestry. 54: 332-338.
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Personal Communications
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Brumback, B. 29 January, 1991. Memorandum to Bob Popp and Frankie Brackley. To Popp, Bob; Brackley, F.
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Reports
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Brackley, F.; Thompson, E. 1985. Global status report, Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupi. Unpublished report for U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Office of Endangered Species, Region 5.
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Brackley, F.E. 1990. 1990 Recovery Work on Jesup's Milk-Vetch (Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii). New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory and Vermont Natural Heritage Program. Unpublished report.
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Ferrick, M.G; Lemieux, G.E.; Weyrick, P.B.; Demot, W. 1988. Options for management of dynamic ice breakup on the Connecticut River near Windsor, Vermont. Hanover, NH: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. CRREL Report 88-1.
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Fichtel, C.F.; Brackley, F. 1989. Preliminary population monitoring of Jesup's milk-vetch (Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupi) at Plainfield, New Hampshire and Hartland, Vermont. Hanover, NH: Unpublished report, submitted to Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
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USFWS. 1989. Jesup's milk-vetch (Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii) recovery plan. Concord, New Hampshire: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5. p.26.
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This
profile was updated on 3/4/2010 |
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