Plants sometimes flowering first year, acaulescent or subacau­lescent, 1.2–15 cm, strigulose, hairs incipiently malpighian or basifixed; from branched cau­dex. Stems osolete, 0–6 cm, internodes mostly obscured by stipules, strigulose. Leaves 1.2–8 cm; stipules dis­tinct throughout, 2–6 mm; leaflets (5–)9–19(or 21), blades elliptic to oval or oblanceolate, 2–9 mm, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces strigose abaxially, strigose or gla­brous adaxially. Peduncles 0.7–9(–10) cm. Racemes 3–9(–12)-flowered, flowers ascending; axis 0.5–2 cm in fruit; bracteoles 0–2. Flowers 11–17 mm; calyx purplish, cylindric, 6.2–8 mm, strigulose, tube 4.8–6.7 mm, lobes subulate, 1.2–2 mm; corolla pink-purple or bicolored; keel 9–11.5 mm. Legumes spreading-descending (humi­strate), green, usually purple-mottled, becoming stra­mineous, incurved, oblong to oblong-lanceoloid, 3-sided compressed, 15–27(–37) × 3–4(–5) mm, ± bilocular, thinly fleshy becoming papery, strigose; sessile. Seeds 16–28. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Rimrock, hogbacks, and ledges, sandy canyons, in shadscale, pinyon-juniper and blackbrush communities.
Elevation: 1300–1900 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Utah.

Discussion

Astragalus cottamii is closely allied to, and contiguous with, A. monumentalis, but its distribution is to the east and southeast in the Four Corners area. Astragalus cottamii is associated with the Cedar Mesa, Entrada, Kayenta, Mesa Verde, and Navajo formations.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.