Astragalus flavus
| Astragalus flavus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. flavus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus flavus Torr. & A.Gray | |
Astragalus flavus (yellow milkvetch) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]:97
Growth pattern
It is an erect or curving perennial from 2 to 12 inches (5.1 to 30.5 cm) tall.[1]:97 The plant is covered with star-shaped hairs.[1]:97
Patches of the plants in bloom may cover large areas of the ground in yellow from the flowers.[1]:97
Stems and leaves
1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) leaves are compound pinnate, with linear to egg shaped 1⁄4 to 6 inches (0.64 to 15.24 cm) leaflets.[1]:97
Inflorescence and fruit
The inflorescence is born on a stalk with 6-30 flowers having a hairy calyx tube and yellow bell-shaped corolla 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm) long.[1]:97 "Flavus" means "yellow". It blooms from May to June.[1]:97
Habitat and range
It grows in saline soil (halophyte) in salt desert shrub between about 3,800 to 5,400 feet (1,200 to 1,600 m) in elevation.[1]:97