Astragalus californicus

Plants robust, 15–50 cm, villous-villosulous; from superficial or slightly subterranean caudex. Stems decumbent to ascending, villous-villosulous. Leaves 3–8.5 cm; stipules connate-sheathing and papery-scarious at proximal nodes, submembranous at distal nodes, (1.5–)2–6.5 mm; leaflets 13–21, blades narrowly oblong- or cuneate-oblanceolate, (4–)6–20(–23) mm, apex truncate-retuse to obtuse, surfaces usually villosulous, sometimes glabrescent or glabrous adaxially. Peduncles erect or incurved-ascending, (3–)6–14 cm. Racemes (10–)15–25(–30)-flowered, 1 per leaf axil; axis 3–10.5 cm in fruit; bracts (1.5–)2–5 mm; bracteoles 0–2. Pedicels 1.3–3.5 mm, densely villous. Flowers (11.5–)13–17.4 mm; calyx campanulate, obliquely cuneate, 6.4–9.7 mm, silky-villous, hairs white, sometimes also black, tube 5.2–7 × 3.5–4.5 mm, lobes triangular, 0.9–3 mm; corolla ochroleucous or yellowish, immaculate; banner recurved through 45°; keel (9.5–)10.1–12.4 mm, apex sharply deltate. Legumes green and purple-mottled becoming brown or stramineous, straight or slightly curved, linear-oblong, strongly laterally compressed, 27–43 × 3.4–5, thinly fleshy becoming papery, strigulose or glabrous; stipe 8–14 mm. Seeds (15–)19–25(–27).

Phenology: Flowering Apr–early Jul.
Habitat: Sagebrush, oak, and coniferous forest communities, on metamorphic or basaltic bedrock.
Elevation: 900–1400 m.

Calif., Oreg.

Discussion

Astragalus californicus is known from the Shasta and Siskiyou region of northeastern California and southern Jackson County in Oregon.

Within its range, Astragalus californicus is distinguished by its exserted-stipitate, narrowly oblong, flat fruits, villosulous foliage, and ochroleucous flowers.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa