Astragalus pseudiodanthus
Tonopah milkvetch
(c) Michelle Cloud-Hughes, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Astragalus pseudiodanthus (Tonopah milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by underground crown and strongly curved pods.
Tonopah milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in eastern Mono County in sandy flats and dunes at elevations around 2,050 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces red-lilac flowers with a banner 9 to 10 millimeters long that curves back approximately 40 degrees. Growing with loose-matted, prostrate stems 20 to 30 centimeters long, it forms a crown hidden below the surface and has soft, spreading hairs. Its compound leaves contain 7 to 19 slightly crowded leaflets, each approximately 3 to 10 millimeters long and somewhat obovate in shape. The fruit is distinctively curved, extending more than half a circle and measuring 12 to 24 millimeters long with spreading hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; key features are underground crown and strongly curved pods
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy flats, dunes
Elevation: 2050 m
California counties: Mono
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Astragalus pseudiodanthus blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 pseudiodanthus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus pseudiodanthus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus pseudiodanthus bloom?
Astragalus pseudiodanthus blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus pseudiodanthus grow?
Astragalus pseudiodanthus occurs in Mono, at elevations of 2050 m.
What plant family does Astragalus pseudiodanthus belong to?
Astragalus pseudiodanthus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus pseudiodanthus rare or endangered?
Astragalus pseudiodanthus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus pulsiferae — Ames' milkvetch
- Astragalus pulsiferae var. coronensis — Modoc plateau milkvetch
- Astragalus pulsiferae var. pulsiferae — Pulsifer's milkvetch
- Astragalus pulsiferae var. suksdorfii — Suksdorf's milkvetch
- Astragalus purshii — Pursh's milkvetch
- Astragalus purshii var. lagopinus — Pursh's milkvetch
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.