Astragalus ravenii
Raven's milkvetch
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Astragalus ravenii (Raven's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very high elevation and buried stem growth habit distinctive.
Raven's milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains (Fresno and Inyo counties) in gravelly habitats at elevations of 3,400 to 3,450 meters. Flowering from June to September, this delicate plant produces white flowers with faint lilac veins and a lilac keel tip, emerging in small clusters of 2 to 8 blossoms. Growing with prostrate, weak stems only 1 to 10 centimeters long, often partially buried in the ground, it forms a widely branched and open structure. Its leaves are composed of 7 to 13 small ovate to rounded leaflets, each 1 to 4 millimeters long with notched tips, creating a fine, intricate foliage. The fruit develops as an ascending, slightly curved papery pod 8 to 17 millimeters long, swollen and sparsely covered with tiny stiff hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; very high elevation and buried stem growth habit distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: 3400-3450 m
California counties: Fresno, Inyo, Mono
Bloom period
Astragalus ravenii blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 ravenii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus ravenii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus ravenii bloom?
Astragalus ravenii blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Astragalus ravenii grow?
Astragalus ravenii occurs in Fresno, Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 3400-3450 m.
What plant family does Astragalus ravenii belong to?
Astragalus ravenii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus ravenii rare or endangered?
Astragalus ravenii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.