Plants shortly caulescent or, sometimes, subacaulescent. Stems to 15 cm. Racemes (3–)5–15-flowered. Flowers: calyx 5–5.8 mm, tube 4.1–4.8 mm, lobes 0.7–1.1 mm; corolla bright pink-purple or violet-red, wings darker, banner with pale center; banner 9.5–11.8 mm; keel 8.9–10.6 mm. Legumes ascending, initially sub­terete or ± dorsiventrally compressed, incurved, subsym­metrically oblong-ellipsoid, somewhat laterally com­pressed and obtuse-angled when mature, 14–24 × 5–7.5(–9) mm, subunilocular, base obtuse or, sometimes, cune­ate, apex abruptly contracted into subulate, pungent beak, sutures prominent, strigulose. Seeds 36–46.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May (Sep).
Habitat: Larrea and juniper com­munities on barren limey knolls, with juniper and match­weed.
Elevation: 1400–1800 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., N.Mex.

Discussion

Variety mimetes occurs in the Rio Grande Valley in Valencia and Socorro counties, New Mexico, and in northeastern Arizona. In its small flowers and fruits, it resembles Astragalus accumbens, with which it has been confused.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.