Astragalus nevinii
San clemente island milkvetch, San Clemente Island Milkvetch
(c) Sula Vanderplank, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sula Vanderplank · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Astragalus nevinii (San clemente island milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by tangled woolly hairs and stalked fruits.
San clemente island milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found on San Clemente Island in sandy flats and dunes at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces cream-colored flowers in dense clusters with 15 to 30 reflexed blooms, each with a banner petal 10.6 to 12.7 millimeters long. Growing with ascending, bushy-branched stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a tangled, woolly appearance with fine, soft, and kinky hairs. Its compound leaves are 2 to 8 centimeters long, composed of 11 to 25 small oblong or obovate leaflets 3 to 12 millimeters long with blunt or notched tips. The distinctive pendulous fruit is 14 to 20 millimeters long, three-sided, and stiff-papery with a slender base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinguished by tangled woolly hairs and stalked fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy flats, dunes
Elevation: probably < 200 m
California counties: Los Angeles
Bloom period
Astragalus nevinii blooms Feb-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 nevinii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus nevinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus nevinii bloom?
Astragalus nevinii blooms Feb-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus nevinii grow?
Astragalus nevinii occurs in Los Angeles, at elevations of probably < 200 m.
What plant family does Astragalus nevinii belong to?
Astragalus nevinii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus nevinii rare or endangered?
Astragalus nevinii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi — Newberry's milkvetch
- Astragalus nutans — Providence mountains milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus — Small-flowered milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus var. austrinus — Smallflowered milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus var. cedrosensis — Cedros milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus var. imperfectus — Turkey peas
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.