Plants 5–20 cm, sparsely strig­ulose; from rhizomatous, sub­terranean branched caudex. Stems prostrate or weakly ascending, 1.5–9+ cm under­ground, ­sparsely strigulose. Leaves 1–7 cm; stipules connate-sheathing and papery-membra­nous throughout, (1.3–)2–5 mm; leaflets (7 or)9–17, blades elliptic to oblong, 1.5–6 mm, apex emarginate, retuse, or obtuse, surfaces strigulose abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Peduncles decumbent (in fruit), (1.5–)2–7 cm. Racemes loosely 1–3(–6)-flowered; axis 3–13 mm; bracts 0.7–2 mm; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 1–2 mm. Flowers 10–16 mm; calyx 4.6–7, black-strigulose, tube 3.4–6 mm, lobes triangular to lanceo­late, 1–2.5 mm; corolla usually pink-purple, rarely white; banner recurved through 45°; keel 9–9.7 mm. Legumes loosely ascending, green, often red-tinged, straight or slightly curved, ovoid, strongly turgid or bladdery, (15–)18–43 × 4.5–12(–15) mm, papery-membranous, black-strigose; gynophore 0–1 mm. Seeds 8–17. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Beaches, glacial moraines, grav­elly fans, slopes, spits.
Elevation: 0–1600 m.

Distribution

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Alaska, Asia (Siberia).

Discussion

Astragalus polaris is distinctive among arctic species of the genus with its ultimately inflated fruits; it occurs throughout much of the state except the southeast. In habit and stature, it resembles A. alpinus, but the deeply retuse leaflets, strongly graduated petals, and sessile fruits provide differential characters.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.