Astragalus pycnostachyus var. pycnostachyus

Coastal marsh milkvetch, Coastal Marsh Milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Coastal marsh milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and northern central Coast Ranges in coastal marshes, seeps, and adjacent sandy areas at elevations below 150 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers in dense, compact clusters. Growing with spreading to ascending stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a canescent (grayish-white woolly) habit. Its pinnately compound leaves have numerous small leaflets, typically 5 to 15 millimeters long, covered in fine white hairs. The fruit is smooth and contains 2 to 5 ovules, characteristic of this distinctive marsh-dwelling milkvetch.

Habitat: Coastal marshes, seeps, adjacent sand

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: < 150 m

Bioregions: NCo, n CCo.

California counties: Humboldt, San Mateo, Marin, San Luis Obispo

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