Astragalus gracilis
(Slender Milkvetch)
Astragalus gracilis, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7437
Astragalus gracilis, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7445
Astragalus gracilis, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7447
Astragalus gracilis, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7439
| Scientific Name | Astragalus gracilis | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ASGR3 |
| Common Name | Slender Milkvetch | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 25528 |
| Family | Fabaceae (Pea) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Life zones and habitat: Plains and foothills (3500 to 6500 ft.); often calcareous soils on open prairies, wooded or brushy hillsides, ravines, and roadsides. Plant: Erect, ascending, or decumbent, 1 or more branched weak stems 6 to 16 inches long; stems covered with fine, short, appressed hairs. Leaves: Odd-pinnately-compound leaves 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long with each blade divided into 9 to 17 narrowly-linear or linear-oblong widely separated leaflets, 1/4 to 3/4-inch long, less than 1/10 inch wide up to 3/8-inch long; upward-curled edges. Inflorescence: Loose spike-like racemes 2 to 8 inches long with 3 to 50 pea-like blossoms; corollas dark purple to pale pinkish or sometimes whitish with purple keel tips, fading to yellowish; banner often purple-veined. Bloom Period: May to July. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County