Astragalus oophorus
Bladder milkvetch
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus oophorus (Bladder milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family.
Bladder milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in dry montane habitats at elevations suitable for its robust growth. Flowering from late spring to summer, this plant produces distinctive red-purple flowers with white wing tips, blooming in clusters of 4 to 10 spreading blossoms with banners 16 to 23 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent or ascending stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops a relatively glabrous structure with a spreading habit. Its compound leaves feature 7 to 21 leaflets, each 4 to 20 millimeters long and broadly ovate to nearly round. The plant's most distinctive feature is its remarkable bladdery fruit, which is widely ovate, 25 to 55 millimeters long, and somewhat pendulous or spreading.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino
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 oophorus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus oophorus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus oophorus grow?
Astragalus oophorus occurs in Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino.
What plant family does Astragalus oophorus belong to?
Astragalus oophorus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
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.