Astragalus tener var. ferrisiae

Ferris' milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Ferris' milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in northern Sacramento Valley in alkaline flats and vernally moist meadows at elevations below 60 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small whitish to pale purple flowers in clusters of 3 to 12 blooms. Growing with delicate stems 6 to 26 centimeters tall, it forms slender and spreading branches. Its pinnate leaves are composed of 7 to 15 small leaflets, each approximately 2 to 6 centimeters long. The distinctive fruit is a curved pod 2.7 to 5 centimeters long with a slightly stalk-like base.

Habitat: Alkaline flats, vernally moist meadows

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 60 m

Bioregions: n ScV.

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