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 (left) Applegate’s milk-vetch (Astragalus applegatei) is one of Oregon’s rarestnative plants, found only in and around Klamath Falls. (right) Presented byIsaac Sandlin, Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Unique Traits, Vulnerabilities,and Management Insights
Applegate’s milk-vetch (Astragalus applegatei) is one of Oregon’s rarest native plants, found only in seasonally wet, alkaline meadows, primarily in and around Klamath Falls. Its story is closely tied to the history of wetlands, agriculture, and land management in the region, and to decades of conservation work by agencies, landowners, and volunteers.
This presentation looks at what makes Applegate’s milk-vetch unique, why it remains vulnerable, and how recent conservation work is helping us observe how the plant responds to mowing, fire, and other common management practices—slowly building the understanding needed to care for it over the long term.
If time permits, there may also be discussion about other rare plants found in the Klamath basin and a short summary of what the Oregon Department of Agriculture Native Plant Conservation Program has been doing.
Presenter: Isaac Sandlin is a botanist with the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Native Plant Conservation Program. His work focuses on the conservation and recovery of rare and endangered plant species across Oregon, with an emphasis on long-term field monitoring, habitat management, and collaboration with land managers and partner organizations. He has worked on Applegate’s milk-vetch and other imperiled native plants for since 2022 and is especially interested in how careful, sustained land stewardship can support species persistence over time.
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