Plants loosely tuft-forming, shortly caulescent, 2–8 cm, hirsute and tomentose, hairs basifixed; from superficial cau­dex. Stems decumbent or pros­trate, often with 2+ apparent internodes, internodes to 1–1.5 cm, hirsute or tomentose. Leaves 2.5–7 cm; stipules 3–8 mm, submembranous; leaflets (7 or)9–17, blades broadly obovate to oblong-obovate or obovate-cuneate, (2–)3–12 mm, apex obtuse or emarginate, surfaces hirsute and tomentose. Peduncles incurved-ascending, decumbent in fruit, 2.5–6.5 cm. Racemes (3 or)4–10-flowered, flowers ascending; axis 0.5–3 cm in fruit; bracts 4–6.5 mm; bracteoles 2. Pedicels 1.7–4.5 mm. Flowers (22–)24–29 mm; calyx cylindro-campanulate, (11.5–)12.5–16 mm, densely hirsute, tube (8–)9.2–12.4 mm, lobes broadly subulate, 3–4.3 mm; corolla pink-purple, wing and keel tips maculate; banner recurved through 40°; keel (21.5–)24–27.5 mm. Legumes ascend­ing (humistrate), ± straight proximally, gently incurved distally, obliquely lanceoloid-ellipsoid, obcompressed proximally, (25–)30–50 × 10–15 mm, unilocular, fleshy becoming leathery, densely hirsute, hairs lustrous, wavy or contorted, (1–)2–2.5 mm. Seeds 40–50.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Gravelly, clay ridges among sagebrush, cliff edges, talus under cliffs, on limestone bedrock.
Elevation: 1000–2300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Nev.

Discussion

Astragalus funereus, exceptionally striking with pink-purple flowers about the same size as those of A. coccineus, is poorly represented in herbaria. It is restricted to the Grapevine Mountains on the eastern side of Death Valley, California, and adjacent Nye County, Nevada.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.