Astragalus kelseyae
Madroño 58: 185, figs. 1, 2. 2011.
Plants prostrate, 10–20 cm, from branched caudex, branches slender, subterranean for 2–10 cm+. Stems decumbent, with ascending tips, silvery green hairy. Leaves 3–5.2 cm; stipules triangular, 1–4.5 mm, papery; leaflets: terminal ones jointed, blades flat, oval to obovate, (5.7–)8–9.3(–15) × (4.5–)6–7.5(–12) mm, surfaces strigose. Peduncles prostrate, 1.3–2.5 cm, shorter than subtending leaf. Racemes 2–7-flowered; axis 0.5–1.2 cm in fruit; bracts 1.5–2.5 mm, hyaline; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 2.5–3 mm. Flowers 20–23 mm; calyx 11.4–12.7 mm, tube 8.7–9.7 mm, lobes subulate, 2.7–3.5 mm; corolla white tinged pinkish, fading cream. Legumes often red-mottled, 37–47 × 23–33 mm (when pressed), hairy; sessile on thickened gynophore 1.2–1.5 mm. Seeds 26.
Phenology: Flowering May–Sep.
Habitat: Talus openings on slopes, Gambel oak and bigtooth maple shrublands.
Elevation: 1600–1700 m.
Discussion
This distinctive species is known only from the Wasatch Mountains in Weber County.
Selected References
None.