Astragalus pulsiferae var. coronensis

Modoc plateau milkvetch, Modoc Plateau Milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Modoc plateau milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and eastern Modoc Plateau regions in sandy or gravelly soils with juniper, pine, and sagebrush at elevations of 1,300 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers in small clustered inflorescences. Growing with slender branching stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms delicate spreading clumps in open woodland areas. Its pinnately compound leaves have 11 to 17 leaflets, each approximately 5 to 10 millimeters long, with a soft, grayish-green appearance. The fruit is a small, inflated legume pod characteristic of milkvetch species.

Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils, often with juniper, pines, sagebrush

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1300-1900 m

Bioregions: n SNH (Plumas Co.), e MP

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