Astragalus purshii var. lectulus
Pursh's milkvetch
Photo: parent species Astragalus purshii · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus purshii var. lectulus (Pursh's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive cottony appearance and cotton ball-like fruits.
Pursh's milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, southern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and western edge of the eastern Sierra Nevada in dry, open flats and rocky slopes often with juniper and pine forests at elevations of 1,500 to 3,650 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate pink or pale purple flowers in small clusters with 1 to 5 blooms. Growing with low-spreading stems rarely exceeding 10 centimeters tall, it forms compact ground-hugging clumps. Its leaves are composed of 3 to 11 small leaflets, each 2 to 10 millimeters long, creating a fine, intricate foliage structure. The fruit is a slightly curved pod 7.5 to 15 millimeters long, containing 24 to 32 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; distinctive cottony appearance and cotton ball-like fruits are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open flats, slopes, often with juniper, pines, rocky slopes above timberline
Elevation: 1500-3650 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Alpine, Siskiyou, Lassen, Mendocino, Tulare, Madera, Tehama, Tuolumne, Trinity, Los Angeles, Humboldt, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Placer, San Benito, Ventura
Bloom period
Astragalus purshii var. lectulus blooms May-Aug.
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 purshii var. lectulus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus purshii var. lectulus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus purshii var. lectulus bloom?
Astragalus purshii var. lectulus blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Astragalus purshii var. lectulus grow?
Astragalus purshii var. lectulus occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Alpine, Siskiyou, Lassen, Mendocino, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3650 m.
What plant family does Astragalus purshii var. lectulus belong to?
Astragalus purshii var. lectulus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus purshii var. lectulus grow in?
Astragalus purshii var. lectulus grows in Dry, open flats, slopes, often with juniper, pines, rocky slopes above timberline.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus purshii var. purshii — Pursh's milkvetch
- Astragalus purshii var. tinctus — Pursh's milkvetch
- Astragalus pycnostachyus — Loco weed
- Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus — Ventura marsh milkvetch
- Astragalus pycnostachyus var. pycnostachyus — Coastal marsh milkvetch
- Astragalus rattanii — Rattan'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.