Astragalus funereus is an uncommon species of milkvetch in the family Fabaceae, known by the common names Funeral Mountain milkvetch and black milkvetch. It was described by the botanist Marcus E. Jones.
Etymology: The Latin specific epithet funereus and the common name "Funeral Mountain milkvetch" refer to a population found in the Funeral Mountains of Death Valley, California.
Distribution and habitat: The species is native to the Mojave Desert scrub of eastern California (primarily the Grapevine Mountains on the eastern side of Death Valley) and adjacent Nye County in western Nevada. It occurs at elevations from 1,280 to 2,100 meters, in habitats such as Mojavean desert scrub, often on carbonate, clay, gravelly, and rocky substrates, including rock crevices, volcanic talus slopes, and steep volcanic tuff scree.
Description: Astragalus funereus is a small tufted perennial herb densely coated in stiff hairs. The stems reach up to 8 centimeters in length. The short leaves are composed of several hairy oval-shaped leaflets growing close together. The inflorescence contains up to 10 flowers and is covered in black hairs. The flowers are 2 to 3 centimeters long, streaked with pink and purple. The fruit is a compressed, lance-shaped legume pod up to 5 centimeters long, leathery and coated in white hairs.
Conservation status: The species is ranked 1B.2 under the California Rare Plant Rank system, indicating it is rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. NatureServe classifies it as Imperiled. It is considered a species of conservation concern.
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Rosids
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Subfamily: Faboideae
- Genus: Astragalus
- Species: A. funereus
- Binomial name: Astragalus funereus M.E.Jones
