Astragalus macrodon
Salinas milkvetch
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Astragalus macrodon (Salinas milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Salinas milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in central coastal regions of California, growing on eroded pale shales, sandstone, and serpentine alluvium at elevations of 200 to 1,550 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces cream-colored flowers with red-brown-tinged tips and purple calyx lobes, arranged in clusters of 8 to 35 blooms. Growing in clumped, ascending stems 50 to 100 centimeters tall with wavy or curved hairs, it develops distinctive leaflets with purple midribs. Its compound leaves feature 11 to 29 roughly elliptic leaflets, each 7 to 20 millimeters long, with a delicate purple-edged appearance. The fruit is a bladdery, widely ovate pod 20 to 40 millimeters long with spreading or ascending hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Eroded pale shales or sandstone, serpentine alluvium
Elevation: 200-1550 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Bloom period
Astragalus macrodon blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 macrodon native to California?
Yes. Astragalus macrodon is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus macrodon bloom?
Astragalus macrodon blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus macrodon grow?
Astragalus macrodon occurs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura, at elevations of 200-1550 m.
What plant family does Astragalus macrodon belong to?
Astragalus macrodon is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus macrodon rare or endangered?
Astragalus macrodon carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii — Peirson's milkvetch
- Astragalus malacus — Shaggy milkvetch
- Astragalus miguelensis — San miguel island milkvetch
- Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus — Minthorn's milkvetch
- Astragalus mohavensis — Mohave locoweed
- Astragalus mohavensis var. hemigyrus — Curved-pod 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.