Astragalus didymocarpus
| Astragalus didymocarpus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| var. didymocarpus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. didymocarpus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus didymocarpus Hook. & Arn. | |
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.
Description
Astragalus didymocarpus is a slender, hairy annual herb growing erect to about 30 centimeters tall, drooping, or flat on the ground in a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 7 or 8 centimeters 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 a centimeter long. The inflorescence is covered in long black and white hairs.
The fruit is a small, spherical legume pod a few millimeters wide which dries to a stiff papery texture.
Varieties
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
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment - Astragalus didymocarpus
- USDA Plants Profile: Astragalus didymocarpus
- Photo gallery: Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus