Astragalus tennesseensis

Astragalus tennesseensis is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Tennessee milkvetch. It is native to the United States, where it is known from Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Alabama.Astragalus tennesseensis. Center for Plant Conservation. Most of the occurrences are in Tennessee.Astragalus tennesseensis. The Nature Conservancy. This plant produces cream-colored flowers in April and May. The seedlings grow slowly and several years pass before the plants reach reproductive maturity.Baskin, C. C., et al. (1972). Observations on the ecology of Astragalus tennesseensis. American Midland Naturalist 88(1) 167-82. The species is adapted to drought, remaining metabolically active in habitat that is dry over the summer.Baskin, C. C. and J. M. Baskin. (1974). Responses of Astragalus tennesseensis to drought. Changes in free amino acids and amides during water stress and possible ecological significance. Oecologia 17(1) 11-16. This plant has been nearly extirpated from Illinois and Indiana, but it has been reintroduced there in a few select populations. Some natural populations have been rediscovered in Illinois. The plant grows in cedar glades and glade ecotones and open prairies. It may be found in the partial shade of Juniperus virginiana,Edwards, A. L., et al. (2004). Genetic diversity in Astragalus tennesseensis and the federal endangered Dalea foliosa (Fabaceae). Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 131(4) 279-91.] but it does not tolerate heavy shade.Baskin, J. M. and C. C. Baskin. (2005). Ecology of two geographically restricted Astragalus species (Fabaceae), A. bibullatus and A. tennesseensis, of the eastern United States. Brittonia 57(4):345-353. This species is unique within genus Astragalus and it is the only species in section Tennesseensis.

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