Astragalus xiphoides
Amer. Midl. Naturalist 55: 477. 1956.
Plants rushlike, 30–45 cm, strigulose-cinereous; from shallow, subterranean caudex. Stems prostrate to ascending, 2–7 cm underground, strigulose-cinereous. Leaves reduced to phyllodia or terminally expanded rachis, 2.5–13 cm; stipules distinct throughout, 2–7 mm, papery at proximal nodes, firm at distal nodes; leaflets (1 or)3–7, blades linear-filiform or linear-involute, continuous with rachis, 3–17 mm, apex acute, surfaces strigulose. Peduncles ascending, 3.5–7.5 cm. Racemes (3–)7–20(–35)-flowered, flowers declined or nodding; axis 2–18(–33) cm in fruit; bracts 1.2–2.6 mm; bracteoles 0 or 2. Pedicels 2–8 mm. Flowers 8–9 mm; calyx campanulate, 4.6–6 mm, strigulose, tube 3.8–4.1 mm, lobes subulate or triangular-subulate, 0.8–1.9 mm; corolla ochroleucous, immaculate; banner recurved through 100–130°; keel 8 mm, apex bluntly triangular. Legumes declined or pendulous, stramineous, straight or nearly so, narrowly lanceoloid-oblong, strongly laterally compressed, 25–40 × 4–5.5 mm, papery, strigulose; sessile. Seeds 14–18.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–early Jun.
Habitat: Sandstone and clay bluffs.
Elevation: 1500–1600 m.
Discussion
Astragalus xiphoides is known from Apache, Coconino, and Navaho counties.
Selected References
None.