| Astragalus gibbsii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. gibbsii |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus gibbsii Kellogg |
|
Astragalus gibbsii is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Gibbs' milkvetch. It is native to eastern California, the north-central Sierra Nevada, and western Nevada, where it grows in the pine forest habitat of the mountains and the sagebrush of the plateaus.
Astragalus gibbsii is low-lying perennial herb forming clumps of hairy, gray-green stems up to 35 centimeters long. Leaves are up to about 9 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of oval to oblong leaflets. The large inflorescence bears up to 30 yellowish or cream-colored pouched, podlike flowers, each between 1 and 2 centimeters long.
The fruit is a hanging legume pod 2 to 3 centimeters long. It is fleshy when new and dries to a hairy, leathery texture.