Astragalus malacus
Encyclopedia
Astragalus malacus is a species of milkvetch
known by the common name shaggy milkvetch. It is native to the Great Basin
in the western United States.
bears up to 35 magenta flowers, each up to 2 centimeters long. Stem, leaves, inflorescence, and sepal
s are coated in long, white hairs. The fruit is a densely hairy, papery legume pod up to 4 centimeters in length.
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 shaggy milkvetch. It is native to the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
in the western United States.
Description
Astragalus malacus is perennial herb growing upright to a maximum height near 40 centimeters. Its leaves are up to 15 centimeters long and are made up of many oval-shaped leaflets. The 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...
bears up to 35 magenta flowers, each up to 2 centimeters long. Stem, leaves, inflorescence, and sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s are coated in long, white hairs. The fruit is a densely hairy, papery legume pod up to 4 centimeters in length.