Herbs perennial, caulescent; caudex usually subterranean, sometimes superficial; taproot woody. Hairs basifixed. Stems single or few to several. Stipules distinct or connate at proximal nodes. Leaves odd-pinnate, petiolate to subsessile; leaflets (11–)15–33. Racemes loosely flowered, flowers ascending to spreading. Calyx tubes campanulate or cylindric. Corollas usually red- or lilac-purple, pink-purple, or white with maculate keel apex, banner recurved through 40–45°, keel apex obtuse. Legumes deciduous, at least eventually, sessile, spreading or ascending, humistrate, usually straight, rarely incurved, broadly ovoid, globose, subglobose, or oblong-cylindroid or -ellipsoid, terete or ± obcompressed, bilocular. Seeds 26–77.

Distribution

c, w North America, n Mexico.

Discussion

Species 5 (4 in the flora).

Section Sarcocarpi consists of two subsections: subsect. Sarcocarpi (A. Gray) Barneby with the four species in the flora area and subsect. Sanguinei Barneby only in Mexico.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Astragalus bibullatus, Astragalus crassicarpus, Astragalus gypsodes, Astragalus plattensis