Astragalus preussii
Preuss' milkvetch
(c) Darrin Gobble, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus preussii (Preuss' milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family.
Preuss' milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in alpine and subalpine habitats at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pink-purple flowers with banner petals 14 to 24 millimeters long that curve back approximately 40 degrees. Growing with robust, slightly erect stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive ill-scented character with nearly glabrous foliage. Its compound leaves reach 3.5 to 18 centimeters long, featuring 7 to 25 linear to rounded leaflets measuring 2 to 27 millimeters in length. The fruit is an inflated, erect or ascending pod 12 to 40 millimeters long, with a stiff-papery texture and nearly round cross-section.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Imperial
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 preussii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus preussii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus preussii grow?
Astragalus preussii occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Imperial.
What plant family does Astragalus preussii belong to?
Astragalus preussii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus preussii var. laxiflorus — Lancaster milkvetch
- Astragalus preussii var. preussii — Preuss' milkvetch
- Astragalus pseudiodanthus — Tonopah milkvetch
- Astragalus pulsiferae — Ames' milkvetch
- Astragalus pulsiferae var. coronensis — Modoc plateau milkvetch
- Astragalus pulsiferae var. pulsiferae — Pulsifer's milkvetch
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.