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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.[2]: 97
Astragalus flavus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Astragalus |
Species: | A. flavus
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Binomial name | |
Astragalus flavus Torr. & A.Gray
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Growth pattern
editIt is an erect or curving perennial from 2 to 12 inches (5.1 to 30.5 cm) tall.[2]: 97 The plant is covered with star-shaped hairs.[2]: 97
Patches of the plants in bloom may cover large areas of the ground in yellow from the flowers.[2]: 97 [3]
Stems and leaves
edit1 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.[2]: 97
Inflorescence and fruit
editThe 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.[2]: 97 "Flavus" means "yellow", even though most of its flowers are white.[4] It blooms from May to June.[2]: 97 [3]
Habitat and range
editIt 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.[2]: 97
References
edit- ^ NatureServe (2024). "Astragalus flavus". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h 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
- ^ a b "USDA Plants Database".
- ^ "Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Astragalus flavus and pattersonii". www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.