Astragalus bibullatus
| Pyne's ground plum | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. bibullatus |
| Binomial name | |
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Astragalus bibullatus Barneby & E.L.Bridges, 1987 |
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Astragalus bibullatus, the limestone glade milkvetch or Pyne's ground plum, is an endangered species of flowering plant that is endemic to the cedar glades of the central basin of Tennessee. It is found in only three populations located within a few kilometers of each other in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
The common name refers to Milo Pyne, who discovered the species in the 1980s, and the odd-looking smooth, reddish fruits that ripen on the ground and look superficially like plums. However, the species is a legume and is unrelated to the plum. The foliage of A. bibullatus looks similar to the more widespread cedar glade endemic, A. tennesseensis. However, the flowers of A. bibullatus are pinkish purple in contrast to the white flowers of A. tennesseensis. The fruits are also quite different. A. tennesseensis fruits are greenish, hairy, and are more elongated as is more typical for legumes.
The flowers of A. bibullatus bloom in April and May, while the fruit ripens in May or June.
Because of the small number of populations, A. bibullatus is threatened by habitat destruction. One population is now protected in the Flat Rock Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area. Because there is very little genetic differentiation among populations, further loss of genetic variability is not a threat.
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Wikipedia