Astragalus sprucei
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Astragalus sprucei faces significant pressure from livestock grazing and trampling in its limited alpine habitat range. The species' restricted distribution across high-elevation sites in the Rocky Mountains makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and recreational vehicle use in some locations further fragment and degrade the specialized soil conditions this milkvetch requires.
Habitat
This alpine milkvetch inhabits specialized high-elevation sites between 2,400-3,400 meters in the Rocky Mountains, typically growing in gravelly soils and rocky slopes with specific geological substrates. The species requires well-drained, often calcareous soils in open alpine and subalpine environments with minimal competition from other vegetation.