Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus
Freckled milkvetch
(c) Hadley Paul Garland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus (Freckled milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Freckled milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the White and Inyo Mountains in dry sagebrush and pine forest environments at elevations of 2,200 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces nearly white flowers with a banner 10 to 12 millimeters long in clusters of 6 to 10 blossoms. Growing in loose tufts with stems less than 15 centimeters tall and covered in fine appressed hairs, the plant forms a compact ground-hugging habit. Its leaves are 4 to 9 centimeters long, composed of 13 to 27 narrowly elliptic leaflets spaced along the stem. The distinctive fruit is a papery, bladdery pod 10 to 20 millimeters long with a mottled surface and a 4 to 7 millimeter curved beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry sandy or gravelly flats, hillsides, sagebrush, pine forest
Elevation: 2200-3500 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo
Bloom period
Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus blooms Jun-Aug.
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. semotus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus bloom?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus grow?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus occurs in Mono, Inyo, at elevations of 2200-3500 m.
What plant family does Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus belong to?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus grow in?
Astragalus lentiginosus var. semotus grows in dry sandy or gravelly flats, hillsides, sagebrush, pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii — Peirson's 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.