Astragalus didymocarpus
Two-seeded milkvetch, Two-Seeded Milkvetch
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus didymocarpus (Two-seeded milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by small spherical 2-lobed fruits.
Two-seeded milkvetch is a California native annual herb found in various bioregions with open grasslands and dry slopes from low to moderate elevations. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to purple-tinged flowers in small dense clusters with 5 to 30 blossoms. Growing with slender, prostrate to nearly erect stems 5 to 45 centimeters tall and covered in fine gray hairs, it has a delicate, spreading form. Its compound leaves feature 9 to 17 small linear to oblanceolate leaflets, each 2 to 14 millimeters long with slightly notched tips. The fruit is a small, spherical pod about 2 to 4 millimeters long, wrinkled and drying to a stiff papery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; small spherical 2-lobed fruits
Habitat and range
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Inyo, San Diego, Ventura, Tulare, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, San Benito, Kings, Merced, Madera, Contra Costa, Yolo, Alameda, Stanislaus, Sutter, Monterey, Napa
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 didymocarpus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus didymocarpus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus didymocarpus grow?
Astragalus didymocarpus occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Inyo, San Diego and other counties.
What plant family does Astragalus didymocarpus belong to?
Astragalus didymocarpus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Astragalus douglasii — Douglas milkvetch
- Astragalus douglasii var. douglasii — Douglas's 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.