Plants clump-forming, rushlike, 40–70 cm, strigulose; from subterranean caudex. Stems ascending to erect, flexuous, dif­fusely interbranched, 6–16 cm underground, proximalmost epigeous internodes the shortest, clumps to 1+ m wide, strigulose. Leaves 1.5–6.5 cm, unifoliolate throughout or distally, terminal leaflet slightly expanded and confluent with filiform rachis; stipules distinct throughout, 1–5 mm, membranous becoming papery at proximal nodes, herbaceous at distal nodes; leaflets (1 or)3–9, blades linear-oblong to linear-elliptic or lin­ear, 2–11 mm, apex acute, surfaces strigose; terminal leaflet decurrent distally, not jointed to rachis. Peduncles incurved-ascending, 6–19 cm. Racemes 3–17-flowered, flowers ascending; axis 5–40(–42) cm in fruit; bracts 0.5–1.1 mm; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 1.5–5.5 mm. Flowers 8–10.5 mm; calyx campanulate, 2.5–4.6 mm, strigose, tube 1.5–3.7 mm, lobes triangular, 0.5–1.9 mm; corolla pink-purple; banner recurved through 50°; keel 7.4 mm, apex obtuse to subacute, not beaklike. Legumes pendulous, stramineous, straight or decurved, narrowly ellipsoid, dorsiventrally or laterally compressed or subterete, 17–28 × 3.8 mm, papery, strigose or glabrous; stipe 2.5–5 mm. Seeds 10–12.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Pinyon-juniper communities.
Elevation: 1500–1900 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Loading map...

Utah.

Discussion

Astragalus harrisonii is known from Capitol Reef and southward to the Water Pocket Fold. It is a delicate, wispy plant with stems and racemes that greatly surpass the leaves. Flowers may be widely spaced (to 3 cm) along racemes.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.