Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus

Common dwarf milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Common dwarf milkvetch is a California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi, Great Valley, central Western California, southwestern California, and Mojave Desert regions in grassy areas at elevations below 1,350 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small clusters of pale purple to white flowers with distinctive black-haired calyxes. Growing with nearly erect green stems 25 to 45 centimeters tall, the plant has a delicate, sparsely hairy appearance. Its leaves are compound with multiple leaflets, sparsely covered in stiff, short hairs that give the plant a light green, somewhat rough texture. The small flowers feature a banner petal 3 to 6 millimeters long and a curved keel with a bluntly pointed tip.

Habitat: Grassy areas

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: < 1350 m

Bioregions: c&amps SNF, Teh, GV, CW, SW, DMoj

California counties: Kern, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo, Kings, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Sutter, Yolo, Contra Costa, Fresno, Madera, San Benito, San Joaquin, Tulare

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.