Stems unbranched, relatively slender, (25–)30–70(–90) cm. Stipules 3.5–11(–14) mm, prox­imalmost persistent, not rup­tured. Leaves (3–)6–19(–22.5) cm; leaflets (9–)13–19(or 21), blades 10–45(–50) mm, thin. Peduncles rather slender, 6–22 cm. Racemes sometimes interrupted proximally, 2.5–12 × 2.7–3.5 cm, flowers (12.6–)13.2–16.5 mm. Pedicels 1.4–2 mm. Flowers: calyx (6.5–)7.4–10.5(–11) mm, lobes (1.5–)2–4.4 mm, adaxial pair usually not much broader (though sometimes shorter) than the rest; corolla greenish white or ochroleucous. Legumes grooved dorsally, (9–)11–20 × 3–5 mm, beak (3–)3.5–5 mm, thinly strigose or glabrate; septum (2–)2.5–3.4 mm wide. Seeds (16–)18–26. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat: Coniferous forests.
Elevation: (400–)900–2100 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

A. Gray (1864), under the discussion of Astragalus mortonii, cited both A. spicatus Nuttall ex Torrey & A. Gray (an illegitimate name, not Pallas 1773), and A. tristis Nuttall ex Torrey & A. Gray (see synonymy of var. brevidens), but considered ovary and legume pubescence as the primary distinguishing feature. This is commonly an elongate, slender plant with thin-textured foliage of forested regions within its range. The flowers vary in color from greenish white to cream, sometimes suffused with purple, but dry to cream or brownish. Flowers are ascending in bud but soon become spreading to declined, until in fruit they are erect-ascending.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.