Astragalus umbraticus
Bald mountain milkvetch, Bald Mountain Milkvetch
(c) Aaron Liston, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Aaron Liston · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Astragalus umbraticus (Bald mountain milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by glabrous habit and notched leaflets are key features.
Bald mountain milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in western Klamath Ranges and northern coastal redwood forests of Humboldt County in dry, open woodland at elevations of 200 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces green-white flowers with a banner 10 to 14 millimeters long, recurved at 40 to 60 degrees. Growing with several diffuse or ascending stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms an open, widely branched structure. Its leaves extend 4 to 12 centimeters and feature 11 to 23 widely oblong leaflets 4 to 20 millimeters long with distinctively notched tips. The fruit is a lance-linear pod 14 to 24 millimeters long, turning black and incurved in a quarter to half circle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; glabrous habit and notched leaflets are key features
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open woodland
Elevation: 200-1250 m
Outside California: western Oregon
Bloom period
Astragalus umbraticus blooms May-Jul.
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 umbraticus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus umbraticus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus umbraticus bloom?
Astragalus umbraticus blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Astragalus umbraticus belong to?
Astragalus umbraticus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus umbraticus rare or endangered?
Astragalus umbraticus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Astragalus umbraticus grow in?
Astragalus umbraticus grows in Dry, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus webberi — Webber's milkvetch
- Astragalus whitneyi — Balloon milkvetch
- Astragalus whitneyi var. confusus — Conelike milkvetch
- Astragalus whitneyi var. lenophyllus — Woolly-leaved milkvetch
- Astragalus whitneyi var. siskiyouensis — Siskiyou milkvetch
- Astragalus whitneyi var. whitneyi — Balloonpod milkvetch
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.