Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus
Minthorn's milkvetch
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus (Minthorn's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by coarse spreading hairs and compressed fruits.
Minthorn's milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the southern desert mountains, White and Inyo Mountains, and eastern desert mountains in Inyo and San Bernardino counties, inhabiting rocky, calcareous hillsides and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,350 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces cream-colored flowers with a purple keel tip, the banner 12 to 18 millimeters long and recurved at a 45-degree angle. Growing with ascending or erect stems 3 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a robust or somewhat clumped habit with dense, spreading, grayish hairs. Its leaves are 4 to 17 centimeters long, comprising 7 to 17 leaflets that are approximately 8 to 25 millimeters long and roughly obovate in shape. The fruit is nearly erect, 15 to 30 millimeters long, slightly compressed with convex sides, and covered in spreading hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; distinguished by coarse spreading hairs and compressed fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, calcareous hillsides, washes, generally pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1350-2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: southern Nevada
Bloom period
Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus 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 minthorniae var. villosus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus bloom?
Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus grow?
Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of 1350-2300 m.
What plant family does Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus belong to?
Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus grow in?
Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus grows in Rocky, calcareous hillsides, washes, generally pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.