Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus
Sickle milkvetch, Sickle Milkvetch
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus (Sickle milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive curved sickle-shaped hanging fruits.
Sickle milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in the Great Basin and northern California Ranges in loose soils, often with sagebrush, at elevations of 1,000 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to pale yellow flowers with petals 15 to 21 millimeters long, reflexed at nearly 45 degrees. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall, often stout and covered in grayish, curly hairs, it forms a leafy habit. Its compound leaves bear 7 to 21 obovate leaflets, each 3 to 23 millimeters long with obtuse or notched tips. The distinctive sickle-shaped fruit is pendent, 20 to 35 millimeters long, curved in a quarter to full circle, with a stiff-papery texture when dried.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 56 sympatric species; distinctive curved sickle-shaped hanging fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Loose soil, often with sagebrush
Elevation: 1000-2900 m
California counties: Mono, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus blooms Apr-Jul.
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 curvicarpus var. curvicarpus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus bloom?
Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus grow?
Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus occurs in Mono, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sierra, at elevations of 1000-2900 m.
What plant family does Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus belong to?
Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus grow in?
Astragalus curvicarpus var. curvicarpus grows in Loose soil, often with sagebrush.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus deanei — Dean's milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus — Two-seeded milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus — Common dwarf milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus var. dispermus — Dwarf white milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus var. milesianus — Miles' milkvetch
- Astragalus didymocarpus var. obispoensis — San luis obispo milkvetch
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.