Astragalus tener var. tener
Alkali milkvetch
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Astragalus tener var. tener (Alkali milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by shorter fruits without stalk-like base separate from var. ferrisiae.
Alkali milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, and Santa Cruz Island in alkaline flats and vernally moist meadows at elevations below 60 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate white to pale purple flowers in small clusters of 3 to 12 blooms. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms low-spreading or slightly ascending patches. Its compound leaves feature 7 to 17 small leaflets arranged along delicate stems, each leaflet approximately 2 to 9 centimeters long. The fruit is a slightly curved pod 10 to 25 millimeters long, containing 8 to 14 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; shorter fruits without stalk-like base separate from var. ferrisiae
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline flats, vernally moist meadows
Elevation: < 60 m
California counties: Merced, Yolo, Alameda, San Benito, Solano, San Diego, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Napa, Stanislaus, Kern
Bloom period
Astragalus tener var. tener blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 var. tener native to California?
Yes. Astragalus tener var. tener is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus tener var. tener bloom?
Astragalus tener var. tener blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus tener var. tener grow?
Astragalus tener var. tener occurs in Merced, Yolo, Alameda, San Benito, Solano, San Diego, Contra Costa, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 60 m.
What plant family does Astragalus tener var. tener belong to?
Astragalus tener var. tener is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus tener var. tener rare or endangered?
Astragalus tener var. tener carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
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.