Astragalus tener
Alkali milkvetch
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus tener (Alkali milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family.
Alkali milkvetch is a delicate California native annual found in low-elevation grasslands and wetland margins. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pink-purple flowers with recurved banner petals 5 to 12 millimeters long in small dense clusters of 2 to 12 blooms. Growing with erect or ascending slender stems 2 to 30 centimeters tall, it appears sparsely hairy or almost smooth. Its compound leaves are 2 to 9 centimeters long, composed of 7 to 17 leaflets that are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, with tips that are either notched or pointed. The plant produces distinctive reflexed seed pods 6 to 50 millimeters long that are narrowly lanceolate and stiff-papery.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Yolo, Merced, Lake, Colusa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Monterey, Solano
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 tener native to California?
Yes. Astragalus tener is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus tener grow?
Astragalus tener occurs in Yolo, Merced, Lake, Colusa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Monterey, Solano.
What plant family does Astragalus tener belong to?
Astragalus tener is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
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.