Astragalus pauperculus
Depauperate milkvetch
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Astragalus pauperculus (Depauperate milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by small size, volcanic clay habitat, and purple-mottled pods.
Depauperate milkvetch is a California native annual found in the northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, and northern Sacramento Valley in open, vernally moist volcanic clay habitats at elevations of 40 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces purple flowers with pale or white inner wing margins, with banner petals 5.4 to 10.5 millimeters long recurved about 40 degrees. Growing with slender, generally incurved-ascending stems less than 10 centimeters tall, it has a fine, strigose appearance. Its leaves are 1.5 to 5 centimeters long, composed of 5 to 11 slightly spaced leaflets that are oblanceolate, 2 to 8 millimeters long with notched or blunt tips. The fruit is a narrow, crescent-shaped pod 12 to 20 millimeters long, often purple or purple-mottled, with a short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; key features are small size, volcanic clay habitat, and purple-mottled pods
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, vernally moist, volcanic clay
Elevation: 40-1200 m
California counties: Butte, Tehama, Shasta, Placer
Bloom period
Astragalus pauperculus blooms Mar-May.
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 pauperculus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus pauperculus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus pauperculus bloom?
Astragalus pauperculus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Astragalus pauperculus grow?
Astragalus pauperculus occurs in Butte, Tehama, Shasta, Placer, at elevations of 40-1200 m.
What plant family does Astragalus pauperculus belong to?
Astragalus pauperculus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus pauperculus rare or endangered?
Astragalus pauperculus carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.