Astragalus douglasii
Encyclopedia
Astragalus douglasii is a species of milkvetch
known by the common name Douglas' milkvetch. It is native to California
and Baja California
, where it can be found in many types of desert, valley, chaparral and woodlands
, and montane habitat
s.
holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long.
The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 6 centimeters long and 3 wide which dries to a thin, 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 Douglas' milkvetch. It is native to 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...
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it can be found in many types of desert, valley, chaparral and woodlands
California chaparral and woodlands
The California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of lower northern, central, and southern California and northwestern Baja California , located on the west coast of North America...
, and montane habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s.
Description
Astragalus douglasii is a bushy perennial herb producing a number of erect or prostrate stems up to a meter long. The abundant leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets. The open 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...
holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long.
The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 6 centimeters long and 3 wide which dries to a thin, papery texture.
Varieties
There are three varieties of Astragalus douglasii:- A. d. var. douglasii - limited to California
- A. d. var. parishii (Parish's milkvetch) - found throughout the mountain ranges of Southern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaSouthern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
- A. d. var. perstrictus (Jacumba milkvetch) - rare variety limited to San Diego County, CaliforniaSan Diego County, CaliforniaSan Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, and northern Baja California