Astragalus crotalariae
Salton milkvetch, Salton milk-vetch, Salton milk-vetch
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Astragalus crotalariae (Salton milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive thick leaflets and inflated fruits.
Salton milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in the Colorado Desert in desert valleys, washes, and sandy or gravelly areas at elevations from 60 meters below to 300 meters above sea level. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces bright red-purple or white flowers with a banner petal 21 to 28 millimeters long that curves back at about 40 degrees. Growing with bushy-clumped stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall that are often hollow and somewhat strigose, it forms a coarse and slightly ill-scented plant. Its leaves are 5 to 16.5 centimeters long with 9 to 19 leaflets that are approximately 5 to 35 millimeters long, broadly obovate to round, with flat, thick surfaces and slightly notched tips. The fruit is an inflated, ovate pod 20 to 30 millimeters long with a distinctive fine, net-like pattern that dries to a thick-papery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinctive thick leaflets and inflated fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Valleys, washes, in desert foothills or open, sandy, gravelly areas
Elevation: -60-300 m
California counties: San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Madera, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Inyo
Outside California: southwestern Arizona, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Astragalus crotalariae blooms Jan-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 crotalariae native to California?
Yes. Astragalus crotalariae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus crotalariae bloom?
Astragalus crotalariae blooms Jan-Apr.
Where in California does Astragalus crotalariae grow?
Astragalus crotalariae occurs in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Madera, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, at elevations of -60-300 m.
What plant family does Astragalus crotalariae belong to?
Astragalus crotalariae is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus crotalariae rare or endangered?
Astragalus crotalariae carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus curtipes — Morro milkvetch
- Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus — Sickle milkvetch
- Astragalus deanei — Dean's milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus — Two-seeded milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus — Common dwarf milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus var. dispermus — Dwarf white milkvetch
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.