Astragalus flavus
Astragalus flavus (yellow milkvetch) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]: 97
| Astragalus flavus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. flavus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus flavus Torr. & A.Gray | |
Growth pattern
It is an erect or curving perennial from 2 to 12 inches (5.1 to 30.5 cm) tall.[1]: 97 The plant is covered with star-shaped hairs.[1]: 97
Patches of the plants in bloom may cover large areas of the ground in yellow from the flowers.[1]: 97 [2]
Stems and leaves
1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) leaves are compound pinnate, with linear to egg shaped 1⁄4 to 6 inches (0.64 to 15.24 cm) leaflets.[1]: 97
Inflorescence and fruit
The inflorescence is born on a stalk with 6-30 flowers having a hairy calyx tube and yellow bell-shaped corolla 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm) long.[1]: 97 "Flavus" means "yellow", even though most of its flowers are white.[3] It blooms from May to June.[1]: 97 [2]
Habitat and range
It grows in saline soil (halophyte) in salt desert shrub between about 3,800 to 5,400 feet (1,200 to 1,600 m) in elevation.[1]: 97
References
- Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7
- "USDA Plants Database".
- "Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Astragalus flavus and pattersonii". www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.