Astragalus convallarius var convallarius

Scientific name: Astragalus convallarius Green var convallarius
Family Name: Pea (Fabaceae)
Common Name: lesser rushy milkvetch

Morphological Characteristics:
Habit –native perennial forb, tap rooted with subterranean root crown, hairs strait, short, and appressed to the stem, stems 6 to 32 inches (1.5 to 8 decimeters)tall purple at the base.
Leaves – 2-11 centimeters long, leaflets reduced or wanting, 6 pairs when present, linear-oblong, involute, 25 millimeters long.
Flower – racemes loosely or remotely 3 – 25 flowered early spreading, wings cream-colored, veined or tinged purple (sometimes bright rose-purple) often longer than banner (7-12 millimeters), keel 6.5-9.4 millimeters.
Fruit – pods pendulous, linear, 1.3-5 centimeters long, 2.3-4 millimeters diameter, pale green-purplish or purple mottled.

Note: Morphological characteristics are variable but usually recognized by its sparsely leafy or apparent leafless stems and especially by its loosely racemose flowers.

Blooming: 20 June – 31 July, seed maturity approximately 6 to 8 weeks after flowering.

Distribution and Habitat: Hills, slopes, meadows 4,300 – 7000 foot elevation, Lewis and Clark County, MT, and Unita County, WY.

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Last Modified: 06/15/2009