Plants subacaulescent, 2–4(–6) cm, strigulose, hairs basifixed; caudex branched, branches with marcescent leaf bases and peduncles. Stems obscured by stip­ules and leaf bases. Leaves 1–2.5(–5.8) cm; stipules connate-sheathing at proximal nodes, amplexicaul at distal nodes, 2–3 mm; leaflets 7–13, blades oval-ovate to narrowly oblanceolate or elliptic, 1.8–5.5 mm, apex obtuse, sur­faces strigulose. Peduncles ascending, 1–7 cm. Racemes (1 or)2–4-flowered; axis 0.5–1 cm in fruit. Flowers 4–5 mm; calyx 2.3–3 mm, strigose, hairs white or black, tube 1.6–1.9 mm, lobes subulate, 0.7–0.9(–1.1) mm. Legumes spreading or pendulous, red-mottled, ellipsoid, subinflated, slightly dorsiventrally compressed, 9–9.8 × 4.5–4.6 mm, thin becoming papery, strigulose; gyno­phore 0.3–0.6 mm. Seeds 8–10.

Phenology: Flowering May.
Habitat: Sandstone ledges in pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: ca. 2200 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

N.Mex.

Discussion

Astragalus heilii is restricted to McKinley County and is closely similar to the disjunct A. kerrii, differing in subtle ways, among them the truly basifixed hairs.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.