Astragalus clevelandii
Encyclopedia
Astragalus clevelandii is an uncommon species of milkvetch
known by the common name Cleveland's milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California
, where it grows in moist areas of the North Coast Ranges. It is a member of the serpentine soil
s flora.
is a spike of up to 100 small pealike flowers, each under a centimeter long. They are white or off-white in color.
The fruit is a legume pod less than a centimeter long which dries to a thick papery texture.
Astragalus
Astragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
known by the common name Cleveland's milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in moist areas of the North Coast Ranges. It is a member of the serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s flora.
Description
Astragalus clevelandii is a bushy perennial herb growing up to a meter tall. Its plentiful leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of many oval-shaped leaflets. The plant is mostly hairless, but the leaves may have rough hairs on the undersides. The large inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a spike of up to 100 small pealike flowers, each under a centimeter long. They are white or off-white in color.
The fruit is a legume pod less than a centimeter long which dries to a thick papery texture.