11 



species should be designated sensitive by the BLM in Montana, as 

 proposed . 



The major human caused threat to Astragalus scaphoides in Montana 

 is cattle grazing. Heavy spring grazing has been shown to damage 

 populations (Lesica and Elliot 1987). Most occurrences on public 

 lands are located within grazing allotments, and most are 

 accessible to cattle. The species has not generally been found 

 in heavily grazed habitat and the larger populations are found in 

 rangeland in excellent condition. Spring grazing of public 

 rangeland with populations of Astragalus scaphoides should be 

 kept to a minimum and preferably, these sites should not be 

 grazed until after seeds have dispersed (late July to August). 



Astragalus terminalis Wats 

 Railhead Milkvetch 



DESCRIPTION 



General description: Astragalus terminalis , in the bean 

 family (Fabaceae), is an attractive herbaceous perennial 

 with pinnately compound leaves borne on its stems. The 

 species shares the basic floral formula of its relative, 

 Astragalus scaphoides (see the general description for that 

 species). The flowers, however, are somewhat smaller and 

 are white and distinctly nodding. Vegetative features are 

 also subtly different with the hairs of the leaves attached 

 near their middle, and the leaves with a silvery cast. The 

 bean-like fruits are not stalked. A photographic slide of 

 the plant is attached at the end of this report. 



Technical species description (guoted from Barneby 1989): 

 Potentially but sometimes shortly or obscurely caulescent 

 perennial herbs with superficial root-crown or caudex, 

 densely strigulose throughout with dolabriform hairs, the 

 foliage usually canescent, the inflorescence fuscous- 

 strigulose; stems decumbent or ascending, (2.5)5-20 cm long, 

 with at least (1)2 developed internodes, the cauline axis 

 commonly shorter than the longer inflorescences; stipules 

 submembranous, 2-6 mm long, the lowest ovate, strongly or 

 fully amplexicaul but free, the upper deltate-, triangular-, 

 or lance-acuminate, often reflexed; leaves (3)5-17 cm long; 

 leaflets (11)13-21, either oblong-ovate, emarginate to 

 retuse, or narrowly oblong-elliptic, obtuse to subacute, 3- 

 17 mm long; peduncles incurved-ascending, 6-20(24) cm long; 

 racemes 7-25 flowered, the flowers nodding at full anthesis, 

 the early elongating axis becoming (1.5)3-12(16) cm long; 

 calyx 4-7 mm long, the campanulate teeth 0.6-1.5 mm long; 

 petals white or suffused with palest lilac, the keel-tip 

 deeply maculate, the abruptly recurved banner (11)12-16.5 



