Astragalus cliffordii
Utah Fl. ed. 3, 839. 2003.
Plants forming diffuse clumps, 35–65 cm, strigulose; from shallowly subterranean caudex. Stems erect-ascending, 1–8 cm underground, strigulose. Leaves 3.5–6.5 cm; stipules connate-sheathing at proximal nodes, distinct at distal nodes, 1.5–4.5 mm; leaflets 5 or 7(or 9), blades linear, 8–28 mm, apex acute, surfaces strigose; terminal leaflet sometimes decurrent distally, not jointed to rachis. Peduncles 1.2–12 cm. Racemes 5–19-flowered, flowers ascending; axis 3–10.5(–13.5) cm in fruit; bracts 0.3–0.8 mm; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 2–2.5 mm. Flowers 4.3–6.1 mm; calyx campanulate, 1.8–3 mm, strigose, tube 1.2–1.8 mm, slightly expanding in fruit, lobes triangular, 0.6–1 mm; corolla whitish, faintly suffused with purple, keel maculate. Legumes declined, straight or slightly curved, ellipsoid to oblong, strongly laterally compressed, 9–12 × 2.5–3 mm, glabrous; stipe 0–0.2 mm. Seeds 4–5.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Rimrock ledges of the Mesaverde Group in pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, and galleta-blue grama communities.
Elevation: 1800–2200 m.
Distribution
N.Mex.
Discussion
The relatively small, laterally flattened fruits of Astragalus cliffordii indicate alliance with A. wingatanus; however, it is rushlike in appearance with filiform peduncles and rachises, confluent terminal leaflets, and small, pale flowers.
Selected References
None.