Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens
Short toothed milkvetch
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens (Short toothed milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by rhizomatous, fused stipule sheaths, cylindric erect pods.
Short toothed milkvetch is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and northern Sierra East in heavy soil habitats at elevations of 1,400 to 2,550 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces cream or green-white flowers tinged with dull purple, with banner petals recurving 40 to 90 degrees. Growing with leafy stems 15 to 55 centimeters tall from a rhizome and covered in branched hairs, the plant forms a dense cluster. Its compound leaves have 7 to 25 widely lanceolate leaflets, each 5 to 40 millimeters long with obtuse or shallowly notched tips. The fruit is an erect, cylindrical pod 10 to 15 millimeters long with a slightly recurved beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 67 sympatric species; rhizomatous, fused stipule sheaths, cylindric erect pods
Habitat and range
Habitat: Heavy soil, moist at least in spring
Elevation: 1400-2550 m
California counties: Mono, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Placer, Plumas, Siskiyou
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Vicia: Astragalus has racemes of flowers; vetches (Vicia) have tendrils at leaf tips and climbing or sprawling habit.; vs Oxytropis: Astragalus keel tip is rounded to slightly pointed; Oxytropis keel has a pronounced pointed beak.; vs Cleomella: Astragalus has pea-shaped flowers; Cleomella has 4-petaled cruciform flowers with long stamens.; vs Lupinus: Astragalus has pinnate compound leaves; lupines have palmate leaves (leaflets radiating from one point).; vs Dalea: Astragalus has typical pea flowers; Dalea has tiny flowers with petals attached to the stamen tube.
Frequently asked questions
Is Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens native to California?
Yes. Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens bloom?
Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens grow?
Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens occurs in Mono, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Placer, Plumas, Siskiyou, at elevations of 1400-2550 m.
What plant family does Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens belong to?
Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens grow in?
Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens grows in Heavy soil, moist at least in spring.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.