Astragalus pulsiferae
Ames' milkvetch
(c) Justin Felder, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus pulsiferae (Ames' milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family.
Ames' milkvetch is a delicate California native perennial found in rocky alpine and subalpine habitats at elevations typically above 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with lavender veins and a distinctive lilac keel, with blossoms 5 to 9 millimeters long. Growing in low, tufted formations with prostrate stems rarely exceeding 3 centimeters tall, it spreads in widely branched, slender clusters. Its leaves feature 3 to 13 crowded leaflets, each approximately 2 to 12 millimeters long and slightly obovate with often notched tips. The fruit develops as a translucent, bladdery pod 10 to 20 millimeters long, covered with sparse, long, wavy hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Plumas, Lassen, Sierra
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 pulsiferae native to California?
Yes. Astragalus pulsiferae is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus pulsiferae grow?
Astragalus pulsiferae occurs in Plumas, Lassen, Sierra.
What plant family does Astragalus pulsiferae belong to?
Astragalus pulsiferae is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Astragalus purshii var. lectulus — Pursh'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.