Astragalus tidestromii
Tidestrom's milkvetch
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Astragalus tidestromii (Tidestrom's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by habitat specificity and curved fruit morphology.
Tidestrom's milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the eastern Mojave Desert Mountains, specifically Cushenbury Canyon, in open calcareous gravel foothills at elevations of 600 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with dull purple-tinged petals and dark purple wing and keel tips, with banner petals arching approximately 40 degrees. Growing with a tufted habit and stems less than 7 centimeters long, it forms dense clusters with shaggy, curly hairs. Its compound leaves bear 7 to 19 widely obovate leaflets, each 4 to 17 millimeters long. The distinctive fruit is an ascending, curved pod 15 to 55 millimeters long, slightly lanceolate and compressed, with a long, narrowly triangular beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 40 species; key features are habitat specificity and curved fruit morphology
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, calcareous gravel, foothills
Elevation: 600-1600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: southern Nevada
Bloom period
Astragalus tidestromii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 tidestromii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus tidestromii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus tidestromii bloom?
Astragalus tidestromii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Astragalus tidestromii grow?
Astragalus tidestromii occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of 600-1600 m.
What plant family does Astragalus tidestromii belong to?
Astragalus tidestromii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus tidestromii rare or endangered?
Astragalus tidestromii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
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.