Astragalus diversifolius

Plants 20–50 cm, strigulose, hairs basifixed; from shallow subterranean or superficial caudex and stout taproot. Stems prostrate to ascending or erect, strigulose. Leaves: distal leaves often unifoliolate, leaflets and rachis often expanded into flat, grasslike blade, 1.5–7 cm; stipules connate-sheathing and papery-scarious at proximal nodes, distinct or basally connate and herbaceous at distal nodes, 1–3 mm; petiole flattened or short and continuous with rachis; leaflets 1–7, blades narrowly elliptic, linear, oblanceolate, or lanceolate, 4–47(–67) × 1–5 mm, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces usually strigose, sometimes glabrous adaxially; terminal leaflet longer, sometimes decurrent distally, not jointed to rachis. Peduncles incurved-ascending, 2–15 cm. Racemes (1 or)2–8-flowered, flowers ascending; axis 0.5–3 cm in fruit; bracts 0.7–2.5 mm; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 1.8–4 mm. Flowers 8–13.5 mm; calyx (3.5–)4.4–6.7 mm, strigose, tube 3.2–4.7 mm, lobes broadly subulate, 1–2 mm; corolla greenish white, often tinged with purple; banner recurved through 50–80°; keel 7.8–11 mm, apex broadly triangular. Legumes ascending to declined, stramineous, straight or slightly decurved, narrowly oblong, strongly laterally compressed, bicarinate, 10–17 × 2.7–4 mm, papery, strigose; stipe 0.5–1.3 mm. Seeds 10–16.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Moist, often saline meadows, ditch banks, and swales, usually within the sagebrush community.
Elevation: 1300–2000 m.

Idaho, Nev., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

The rather widely scattered Astragalus diversifolius is not commonly collected and is presumed rare. It has long been confused with the common, more xerophytic, A. convallarius.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa