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Astragalus flavus

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Astragalus flavus

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. flavus
Binomial name
Astragalus flavus
Torr. & A.Gray

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 

Growth pattern

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It 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

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1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) leaves are compound pinnate, with linear to egg shaped 14 to 6 inches (0.64 to 15.24 cm) leaflets.[2]: 97 

Inflorescence and fruit

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The inflorescence is born on a stalk with 6-30 flowers having a hairy calyx tube and yellow bell-shaped corolla 14 to 12 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

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It 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

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  1. ^ NatureServe (2024). "Astragalus flavus". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b "USDA Plants Database".
  4. ^ "Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Astragalus flavus and pattersonii". www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.