Astragalus pauperculus
Encyclopedia
Astragalus pauperculus is an uncommon species of milkvetch
known by the common name depauperate milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California
, where it is known from the northern Sacramento Valley
and the lowest reaches of the Cascade foothills
adjacent. It grows in chaparral
and vernally
wet grassland habitat. This is a very small annual milkvetch which grows in a delicate mat with stems no longer than 10 centimeters. The few leaves are a few centimeters long and are made up of small widely spaced leaflets. The inflorescence
bears 2 to 7 flowers which are purple, sometimes with paler colored edges on their petals. Each flower is generally less than a centimeter long. The fruit is a crescent shaped legume pod between one and two centimeters long.
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 depauperate 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 is known from the northern Sacramento Valley
Sacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
and the lowest reaches of the Cascade foothills
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
adjacent. It grows in chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
and vernally
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
wet grassland habitat. This is a very small annual milkvetch which grows in a delicate mat with stems no longer than 10 centimeters. The few leaves are a few centimeters long and are made up of small widely spaced leaflets. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
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 2 to 7 flowers which are purple, sometimes with paler colored edges on their petals. Each flower is generally less than a centimeter long. The fruit is a crescent shaped legume pod between one and two centimeters long.