Astragalus preussii var. preussii

Preuss' milkvetch, Preuss' Milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Preuss' milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in eastern Mojave Desert regions of southeastern Inyo and northeastern San Bernardino counties in clay flats and sandy washes at elevations around 750 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white to pale lavender flowers in small clusters. Growing with slender stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms low, spreading clumps characteristic of desert milkvetches. Its compound leaves have numerous small leaflets, typically 7 to 11 per leaf, arranged in a pinnate pattern with each leaflet approximately 5 to 10 millimeters long. The species extends its range beyond California into Utah and Arizona, thriving in the sparse, rocky landscapes of the desert southwest.

Habitat: Clay flats, sandy washes

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: +- 750 m.

Bioregions: e DMoj (se Inyo, ne San Bernardino cos.)

California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.