Astragalus kentrophyta var. ungulatus

Spiny milkvetch, spiny milk-vetch, spiny milk-vetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Spiny milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada, specifically Mono County, in sagebrush and juniper stands on valley knolls and foothills with light clay or volcanic ash soils at elevations of 1,500 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with purple-tinged keel, the banner 5 to 6.5 millimeters long. Growing as a prostrate, densely matted plant with silvery branched hairs, it spreads low to the ground with distinctive intertwined stems. Its leaves feature 5 (or 3 on lower leaves) linear elliptic leaflets 3 to 9 millimeters long, each spine-tipped and creating a delicate, intricate texture. The compact fruit is 5 to 7.5 millimeters long, containing 2 to 3 ovules.

Habitat: Valley knolls, foothills, light clay or volcanic ash soils, in sagebrush/juniper stands

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1500-2200 m

Bioregions: SNE (Mono Co.)

California counties: Mono

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