| Astragalus californicus | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
|
Vulnerable (NatureServe) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. californicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus californicus (A.Gray) Greene |
|
Astragalus californicus is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Klamath Basin milkvetch. It is native to the Klamath Mountains and surrounding ranges of northern California and southern Oregon, where it grows in scrub and woodland habitat.
This is a perennial herb forming a sturdy open clump of upright stems growing up to half a meter-1.5 feet tall. The leaves are several centimeters long and made up of green leaflike leaflets. The inflorescence is a loose array of light yellow to cream-colored pealike flowers, each between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a hanging legume pod 3 or 4 centimeters long. It is flat and narrow, with a hairy surface, and it dries to a thick papery texture.