Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus
Sagebrush milkvetch
(c) Hadley Paul Garland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus (Sagebrush milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by sparse hairs and sagebrush habitat.
Sagebrush milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the Modoc Plateau in sagebrush habitat at elevations of 1,050 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with lilac-tinged wing tips, the banner reaching 9.5 to 13.3 millimeters long. Growing with ascending stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall and few branches in the lower half, it has a short-lived perennial habit. Its compound leaves are 4 to 10 centimeters long, featuring 9 to 19 widely obovate leaflets each 5 to 20 millimeters long. The fruit is a distinctive bladdery pod 14 to 30 millimeters long with a thin papery texture and a beak 3 to 9 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; distinguished by sparse hairs and sagebrush habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally sagebrush
Elevation: 1050-1600 m
California counties: Lassen, Siskiyou, Modoc, Sierra, Mono
Outside California: to Oregon, Wyoming, Utah
Bloom period
Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus blooms Apr-Jun.
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. salinus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus bloom?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus grow?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus occurs in Lassen, Siskiyou, Modoc, Sierra, Mono, at elevations of 1050-1600 m.
What plant family does Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus belong to?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus grow in?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. salinus grows in Generally sagebrush.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus — Freckled milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. sesquimetralis — Sodaville milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae — Big bear valley milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. variabilis
- Astragalus leucolobus — Big bear valley woollypod
- Astragalus macrodon — Salinas milkvetch
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.