Astragalus oxyphysus
Stanislaus milkvetch, Stanislaus Milkvetch
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus oxyphysus (Stanislaus milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by large translucent fruits with jointed stalks.
Stanislaus milkvetch is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Joaquin Valley, south Coast Ranges, western Transverse Ranges, and southern Great Basin in arid grassland and scrub at elevations of 100 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces cream-colored flowers in clusters of 20 to 65 blooms, with banner petals recurving at about 50 degrees. Growing with robust, bushy-clumped stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall and fine, wavy spreading hairs, it forms a dense, upright habit. Its compound leaves are 4.5 to 17 centimeters long, featuring 11 to 31 lanceolate leaflets, with stipule sheaths that are often hairy and typically ruptured by stem growth. The distinctive fruit is an inflated, translucent pod 25 to 45 millimeters long, spreading or hanging with a stalk-like base and sparsely hairy surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 33 sympatric species; key features are large translucent fruits with jointed stalks
Habitat and range
Habitat: Arid grassland, scrub
Elevation: 100-1200 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kings, Fresno, San Benito, Monterey, Stanislaus, Merced, Tulare, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Madera
Bloom period
Astragalus oxyphysus blooms Mar-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 oxyphysus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus oxyphysus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus oxyphysus bloom?
Astragalus oxyphysus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus oxyphysus grow?
Astragalus oxyphysus occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kings, Fresno, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of 100-1200 m.
What plant family does Astragalus oxyphysus belong to?
Astragalus oxyphysus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus oxyphysus grow in?
Astragalus oxyphysus grows in Arid grassland, scrub.
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.