Participant Info

Species

Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea [Aragallus pinetorum] [Oxytropis pinetorum] [Oxytropis vegana]

Family

Fabaceae

CommonName

silky nodding locoweed

Presence

yes

Status

native

EarliestDate

1898

LatestDate

2013

Ecosystem

shrubland, foothill, montane

Geobotanical

SSanjuans

Counties

Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache

Passes

Carnero, Cochetopa

WildlifePreserves

Brown Lakes

Other Localities

PhotoRecords

YES Mary E. McDonald: Conejos Co, 4 miles NW of junction of FSR 250 and Hwy 17, 18 July 2022

Comments

Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea is found on both sides of the Valley, in habitats ranging from shrubland to montane. Commonly found in meadows and forest openings, it follows the Rio Grande drainage south no farther than the New Mexico counties that border Colorado: Rio Arriba, Taos, and Colfax. This marks the southern extent of the USA distribution. Oxytropis deflexa (including var. sericea and var. pulcherrima) is present in the Rockies up to the Canadian border. Note that this Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea should not be confused with Oxytropis sericea.

Annotation