Astragalus iodanthus var. diaphanoides

Snake milkvetch, snake milk-vetch, snake milk-vetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Snake milkvetch is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in southeastern Modoc Plateau in Lassen County on dry, barren areas with sandy to volcanic ash soils at elevations of 1,200 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate white to pale purple flowers in compact clusters. Growing with slender stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms dense mats covered in fine, stiff hairs. Its compound leaves have multiple small leaflets densely covered in minute, stiff white hairs, particularly along the leaf margins and midrib. The plant's distinctive hairy texture and ability to thrive in harsh, dry environments make it a resilient species of the high desert landscape.

Habitat: dry barren areas, sand to volcanic ash

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 1200-1400 m

Bioregions: se MP (Lassen Co.)

California counties: Lassen

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