Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius
San antonio milkvetch, San Antonio Milkvetch
(c) Hadley Paul Garland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius (San antonio milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive inflated yellow pods and purple flowers.
San antonio milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the San Gabriel Mountains in dry slopes of open pine forest at elevations of 1,400 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces purple flowers with banner petals 9 to 10.5 millimeters long arranged in small clusters of 10 to 15 blooms. Growing with prostrate or spreading stems 10 to 30 centimeters long and densely hairy throughout, it forms a low, spreading habit. Its compound leaves are 3 to 8 centimeters long, featuring 11 to 21 small obovate leaflets that are densely strigose. The distinctive fruit is a pale yellow, somewhat shiny, papery pod 14 to 30 millimeters long with an erect beak 3 to 6 millimeters high.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; distinctive inflated yellow pods and purple flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes in open pine forest
Elevation: 1400-2600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Bloom period
Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 lentiginosus var. antonius native to California?
Yes. Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius bloom?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius grow?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, at elevations of 1400-2600 m.
What plant family does Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius belong to?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius rare or endangered?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. borreganus — Borrego milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. chartaceus — Broadleaf milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae — Coachella valley milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus — Floriferous milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii — Fremont's milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. idriensis — Freckled 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.