Astragalus didymocarpus

Astragalus didymocarpus is a species of milkvetch known by the common names Dwarf white milkvetch and Two-seeded milkvetch. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat.

Astragalus didymocarpus
var. didymocarpus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. didymocarpus
Binomial name
Astragalus didymocarpus

Description edit

Astragalus didymocarpus is a slender, hairy annual herb growing erect to about 30 cm (12 in) tall, drooping, or flat on the ground in a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 in) long and are made up of narrow to oblong leaflets. The inflorescence is a cluster of up to 30 purple-tinted white flowers, each under 1 cm (0.39 in) long. The inflorescence is covered in long black and white hairs.

The fruit is a small, spherical legume pod which dries to a stiff papery texture.

Varieties edit

There are several varieties of Astragalus didymocarpus:

  • A. d. var. didymocarpus - erect herb found in western Nevada and much of California
  • A. d. var. dispermus - prostrate form native to the desert regions
  • A. d. var. milesianus (Miles' milkvetch) - rare variety found only along the Central Coast of California
  • A. d. var. obispoensis - form with ascending stems native to coastal southern California and Baja California

References edit

  1. ^ Contu, S. (2012). "Astragalus didymocarpus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 208. IUCN. e.T19892382A20012561. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T19892382A20012561.en.

External links edit