Astragalus jaegerianus
Lane mountain milkvetch, Lane Mountain Milkvetch, Lane Mountain milk-vetch, Lane Mountain milk-vetch
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Astragalus jaegerianus (Lane mountain milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive scrambling habit and pod characteristics.
Lane mountain milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in central Mojave Desert near Barstow in desert shrub habitats at elevations of 900 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces dull pale purple flowers with darker veins, fading to cream, with petals 6.5 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with weak, often scrambling stems 3 to 7 decimeters tall, it has a sparsely leafy habit with minute, scale-like hairs. Its compound leaves have 7 to 15 narrow leaflets 3 to 15 millimeters long, which are slightly spaced and hairier on the upper surface. The fruit is a distinctive pendulous pod 18 to 25 millimeters long, with thick, raised, wavy sutures and a stiff-papery or leathery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; distinctive scrambling habit and pod characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Among desert shrubs, sand, gravel
Elevation: 900-1200 m
Bloom period
Astragalus jaegerianus blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 jaegerianus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus jaegerianus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus jaegerianus bloom?
Astragalus jaegerianus blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Astragalus jaegerianus belong to?
Astragalus jaegerianus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus jaegerianus rare or endangered?
Astragalus jaegerianus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
What habitat does Astragalus jaegerianus grow in?
Astragalus jaegerianus grows in Among desert shrubs, sand, gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus johannis-howellii — Long valley milkvetch
- Astragalus kentrophyta — Kentrophyta milkvetch
- Astragalus kentrophyta var. danaus — Sweetwater mountains milkvetch
- Astragalus kentrophyta var. elatus — Spiny-leaved milkvetch
- Astragalus kentrophyta var. tegetarius — Mat milkvetch
- Astragalus kentrophyta var. ungulatus — Spiny milkvetch
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.