Astragalus lemmonii
Lemmon's milkvetch
(c) Aaron Liston, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Astragalus lemmonii (Lemmon's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by habitat specificity and small flowers/pods distinctive.
Lemmon's milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Great Basin and adjacent eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in moist, alkaline meadows and lake shores at elevations of 1,300 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to dull lilac flowers with a recurved banner petal 4.8 to 6.1 millimeters long. Growing with prostrate, slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters long that are sparsely strigose and widely branched, it spreads openly across meadow surfaces. Its compound leaves feature 7 to 15 narrow, elliptic leaflets 2 to 11 millimeters long with acute tips. The fruit is a papery, three-sided elliptic pod 4 to 7 millimeters long that spreads slightly from the plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 52 sympatric species; habitat specificity and small flowers/pods distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, alkaline meadows, lake shores
Elevation: 1300-2900 m
California counties: Lassen, Mono, Sierra, Tehama, Plumas, Modoc, Shasta
Outside California: south-central Oregon
Bloom period
Astragalus lemmonii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 lemmonii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus lemmonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus lemmonii bloom?
Astragalus lemmonii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus lemmonii grow?
Astragalus lemmonii occurs in Lassen, Mono, Sierra, Tehama, Plumas, Modoc, Shasta, at elevations of 1300-2900 m.
What plant family does Astragalus lemmonii belong to?
Astragalus lemmonii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus lemmonii rare or endangered?
Astragalus lemmonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus lentiformis — Lens-pod milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus — Freckled milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. albifolius — Northern loco milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius — San antonio milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. borreganus — Borrego milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. chartaceus — Broadleaf 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.