Astragalus sepultipes
Bishop milkvetch, Bishop Milkvetch
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus sepultipes (Bishop milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by buried stems, silvery appearance, and 2-chambered fruits distinctive.
Bishop milkvetch is a California native perennial found on the eastern edge of the central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and eastern Sierra Nevada in Inyo County, growing in dry, granitic sand within sagebrush and pinyon forest at elevations of 1,450 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale pink to lilac-white flowers with white wing tips, arranged in clusters of 10 to 30 blossoms. Growing with ascending stems 15 to 35 centimeters tall that are mostly hairless and partially buried in the ground, it forms a loose, widely branched clump with silvery or gray-silky hairs. Its leaves are 2 to 8 centimeters long, composed of 7 to 17 obovate leaflets 3 to 14 millimeters long with notched or blunt tips. The fruit is a stiff-papery, somewhat incurved pod 15 to 20 millimeters long with fine, shaggy hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; buried stems, silvery appearance, and 2-chambered fruits distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, granitic sand, in sagebrush in pinyon forest
Elevation: 1450-2000 m
California counties: Inyo
Bloom period
Astragalus sepultipes blooms May-Jul.
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 sepultipes native to California?
Yes. Astragalus sepultipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus sepultipes bloom?
Astragalus sepultipes blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus sepultipes grow?
Astragalus sepultipes occurs in Inyo, at elevations of 1450-2000 m.
What plant family does Astragalus sepultipes belong to?
Astragalus sepultipes is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus sepultipes grow in?
Astragalus sepultipes grows in Dry, granitic sand, in sagebrush in pinyon forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.