Astragalus diversifolius

Scientific name: Astragalus diversifolius A. Gray
Family Name: Pea (Fabaceae)
Common Name: meadow milkvetch

Morphological Characteristics:
Habit –native perennial forb with a buried root crown, stems 8 to 20 inches long, prostrate or decumbent, hairs strait, short, and appressed to the stem.
Leaves – pinnately compound with 1 to 5 linear leaflets 2 to 5.5 centimeters long, the terminal leaflet longer (1-6.7 centimeters) than lateral ones and continuous with the leafstalk. Broader and thinner texture than A. convallarius.
Flower – white to cream (greenish white) with lilac tinge (banner), 3.2 to 5.4 millimeters long, 2 to 8 in a loose raceme. Pea flower shaped, cream colored with green tinge, ¾ inch long.
Fruit – oblong, 10 to 17 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters broad, unilocular (single chamber). Pod beak shorter than A. convallarius.

Blooming:  Mid-June, seed maturity approximately 6 to 8 weeks after flowering..

Distribution and Habitat: Rare, G3 rank. Moist, often alkaline meadows and swales in sagebrush valleys, 4400 to 6300 foot elevation. Western Montana and Green River Basin in Wyoming.

Important Note: Because this species is listed as rare, care should be taken to only collect from robust populations. Contact Jim Jacobs prior to collection.

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Last Modified: 06/15/2009