Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus
Ashen milkvetch
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus (Ashen milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family.
Ashen milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in open, dry ground at elevations around 150 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces pink-purple flowers with banners 14 to 24 millimeters long, recurved at approximately 45 degrees. Growing with prostrate stems up to 8 centimeters long and a tufted habit, the plant is covered in silvery-silky to green-gray hairs. Its compound leaves reach 4 to 16 centimeters long and feature 11 to 31 leaflets, each widely obovate and 4 to 17 millimeters long. The fruit is an ascending, plump-lanceolate pod 17 to 30 millimeters long with stiffly leathery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, dry ground
Elevation: 150 m
Outside California: southwestern Utah, Arizona, very near California
Bloom period
Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus blooms Apr-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 tephrodes var. brachylobus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus bloom?
Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus belong to?
Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus grow in?
Astragalus tephrodes var. brachylobus grows in Open, dry ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.