Astragalus lentiginosus var. chartaceus

Broadleaf milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Broadleaf milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the Modoc Plateau in arid plains and hillsides, often on volcanic soil at elevations of 1,200 to 1,750 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with delicate pink-tinged wing tips in small clusters of 5 to 15 blossoms. Growing with ascending stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall that are relatively coarse and nearly hairless, it has a robust ground-hugging form. Its compound leaves are 4 to 11 centimeters long, featuring 7 to 19 widely obovate leaflets each 5 to 20 millimeters long. The fruit is distinctive, a leathery pod 13 to 48 millimeters long that is slightly inflated and can curve in a three-quarter circle.

Habitat: Arid plains, hillsides, often on volcanic soil

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1200-1750 m

Bioregions: MP

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