Astragalus inyoensis
Inyo milkvetch, Inyo milk-vetch, Inyo milk-vetch
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Astragalus inyoensis (Inyo milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Inyo milkvetch is a native perennial herb ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in the White and Inyo Mountains in gravelly areas at elevations of 1,500 to 2,650 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pink-purple flowers in loose clusters with 6 to 15 spreading blossoms, the banner petal recurving about 45 degrees. Growing with prostrate, loose-matted stems 10 to 60 centimeters long, it forms a sparsely leafy, gray-green plant with a slender, zigzag growth habit. Its compound leaves have 9 to 21 crowded leaflets, each 3 to 10 millimeters long, narrowly obovate with blunt or notched tips. The distinctive fruit is a pendulous, lanceolate pod 12 to 15 millimeters long, strongly incurved and slightly three-sided.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly areas
Elevation: 1500-2650 m
California counties: Inyo
Outside California: south-central Nevada
Bloom period
Astragalus inyoensis blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 inyoensis native to California?
Yes. Astragalus inyoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus inyoensis bloom?
Astragalus inyoensis blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus inyoensis grow?
Astragalus inyoensis occurs in Inyo, at elevations of 1500-2650 m.
What plant family does Astragalus inyoensis belong to?
Astragalus inyoensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus inyoensis rare or endangered?
Astragalus inyoensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus iodanthus — Humboldt river milkvetch
- Astragalus iodanthus var. diaphanoides — Snake milkvetch
- Astragalus iodanthus var. iodanthus — Humboldt river milkvetch
- Astragalus jaegerianus — Lane mountain milkvetch
- Astragalus johannis-howellii — Long valley milkvetch
- Astragalus kentrophyta — Kentrophyta 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.