Astragalus purshii var. purshii
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. purshii (Pursh's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by largest flowers and distinctive cotton ball fruits make identification reliable.
Pursh's milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the Modoc Plateau in dry sagebrush flats at elevations of 1,050 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers with pale lilac tips, ranging 19 to 26 millimeters long. Growing with extremely short stems less than one centimeter tall, it forms low-spreading clusters with delicate compound leaves. Its leaves are composed of 5 to 17 small leaflets, each 2 to 10 millimeters long, creating a dense, ground-hugging foliage. The plant develops elongated seed pods 13 to 27 millimeters long that may be straight or slightly curved at the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; largest flowers and distinctive cotton ball fruits make identification reliable
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry flats, often in sagebrush
Elevation: 1050-2100 m
California counties: Inyo, Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Plumas, Lassen, Nevada, Shasta, Tehama, Trinity, Sierra, Modoc, Siskiyou, Mono, Alpine
Outside California: to southwestern Canada, North Dakota, Colorado
Bloom period
Astragalus purshii var. purshii blooms Apr-Jun.
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. purshii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus purshii var. purshii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus purshii var. purshii bloom?
Astragalus purshii var. purshii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus purshii var. purshii grow?
Astragalus purshii var. purshii occurs in Inyo, Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Plumas, Lassen, Nevada, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 1050-2100 m.
What plant family does Astragalus purshii var. purshii belong to?
Astragalus purshii var. purshii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus purshii var. purshii grow in?
Astragalus purshii var. purshii grows in dry flats, often in sagebrush.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Astragalus rattanii var. jepsonianus — Jepson'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.