Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus
Floriferous milkvetch
(c) Hadley Paul Garland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus (Floriferous milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by branching pattern and dense flower clusters.
Floriferous milkvetch is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada, southern Modoc Plateau, and southeastern Sierra Nevada in sagebrush habitats at elevations of 1,150 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with a subtle lilac tinge, arranged in dense clusters with 10 to 40 individual blossoms. Growing with ascending stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall and several branches in its lower half, it forms a short-lived but robust herb. Its compound leaves feature 11 to 19 obovate leaflets, each 5 to 15 millimeters long and nearly glabrous. The fruit is a distinctive bladdery, pale yellow pod 8 to 21 millimeters long with a small 3 to 7 millimeter curved or erect beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 67 sympatric species; branching pattern and dense flower clusters help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Often among sagebrush
Elevation: 1150-2000 m
Outside California: south-central Oregon, west-central Nevada
Bloom period
Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus blooms May-Jul.
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. floribundus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus bloom?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus belong to?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus grow in?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus grows in Often among sagebrush.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii — Fremont's milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. idriensis — Freckled milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. ineptus — Freckled milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. kernensis — Kern plateau milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. lentiginosus — Freckled milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans — Shining milkvetch
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.