Astragalus pseudiodanthus
Encyclopedia
Astragalus pseudiodanthus is a species of milkvetch
known by the common name Tonopah milkvetch. It is native to the Great Basin
desert
s of Nevada
and eastern California
, such as the Tonopah
area, where it grows in sandy habitat.
This plant is named for the very similar Astragalus iodanthus, of which it is sometimes treated as a variety.
is a cluster of reddish purple flowers.
The fruit is a legume pod up to about 2.5 centimeters long. It is fleshy when new and dries to a leathery texture.
Astragalus
Astragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
known by the common name Tonopah milkvetch. It is native to the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and eastern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, such as the Tonopah
Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
area, where it grows in sandy habitat.
This plant is named for the very similar Astragalus iodanthus, of which it is sometimes treated as a variety.
Description
This is a small mat-forming perennial herb extending several stems from a stem base which lies beneath the surface of the sand. The leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and are made up of small crowded leaflets. The inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a cluster of reddish purple flowers.
The fruit is a legume pod up to about 2.5 centimeters long. It is fleshy when new and dries to a leathery texture.