Plants slender, 15–45 cm, sparsely strigulose; from branched, subterranean caudex. Stems erect or ascending, 1–8 cm underground, often branched proximally, sparsely strigulose. Leaves 2–8 cm; stipules connate-sheathing and papery-membranous at proximal nodes, connate to 1/2 their length or distinct at distal nodes, 1.5–4.5 mm; leaflets 7–11, blades linear, linear-oblanceolate, or filiform to narrowly oblong, 6–22 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces strig­ulose abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Peduncles ascending, 3–11 cm, together with racemes usually shorter than stems. Racemes (7–)12–40-flowered, flowers spreading; axis 4–17 cm in fruit; bracts 0.6–1.5 mm; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 0.5–1.8 mm. Flowers 6–7 mm; calyx cam­panulate, 2.5–3.5 mm, strigulose, tube 1.8–2.5 mm, lobes subulate or deltate, 0.6–1.5 mm; corolla whitish, banner and keel apex lilac-tinged; banner recurved through 45–50°; keel 4.2–5.3 mm. Legumes pendulous, stramineous, ± straight, linear-ellipsoid, obcompressed, 10–15 × 2.3–3.2 mm, papery, glabrous; stipe (1–)1.2–2 mm. Seeds 6–10. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering late Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Sandy, often saline substrates derived from sandstone, among junipers or sagebrush.
Elevation: 1600–2300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Colo., N.Mex.

Discussion

Astragalus proximus occurs only in northwestern New Mexico and barely into adjacent Colorado.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.