- Astragalus bibullatus
Taxobox
name = Pyne's ground plum
status = EN
image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo =Fabales
familia =Fabaceae
subfamilia =Faboideae
tribus =Galegeae
genus = "Astragalus "
species = "A. bibullatus"
binomial = "Astragalus bibullatus"
binomial_authority = Barneby and E.L. Bridges"Astragalus bibullatus" (Pyne's ground plum) is an
endangered species that is endemic to thecedar glades of the central basin ofTennessee . It is found in only about five populations located within a few kilometers of each other inRutherford County, Tennessee .The common name refers to Milo Pyne, who discovered the species in the 1980s, and the odd-looking smooth, purplish fruits that ripen on the ground in June 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. tennessensis". However, the flowers of "A. bibullatus" are pinkish purple in contrast to the white flowers of "A. tennessensis". The fruits are also quite different. "A. tennessensis" fruits are greenish, hairy, and are more elongated as is more typical for legumes.Threats
Because of the small number of populations, "A. bibullatus" is threatened by habitat destruction. One population is now protected in the [http://www.state.tn.us/environment/nh/natareas/flatrock/ Flat Rock Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area] . Because there is very little genetic differentiation among populations, [http://www.apsu.edu/baskaufc/AnMoBot.html] further loss of genetic variability is not a threat.
References
*Barneby, R.D. and E.L. Bridges. 1987. A new species of "Astragalus" (Fabaceae) from Tennessee's Central Basin. Brittonia 39:358-363.
* [http://www.apsu.edu/baskaufc/AnMoBot.html Baskauf, C. J. and S. Snapp. 1998. Population genetics of the cedar-glade endemic Astragalus bibullatus (Fabaceae) using isozymes. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 85: 90-96.]*Morris, A. B., R. S. Baucom, and M. B. Cruzan. 2002. Stratified anyalysis of the soil seed bank in the cedar glade endemic Astragalus bibullatus: evidence for historical changes in genetic structure. American Journal of Botany 89: 29-36.
External links
* [http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/asbi6.htm "Astragalus bibullatus" images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
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