Astragalus desperatus

Astragalus desperatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Astragalus
Species: A. desperatus
Binomial name
Astragalus desperatus

Astragalus desperatus (common name - rimrock milkweed) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]:120

Description

Growth pattern

It is a low growing perennial plant growing from 12 to 4 12 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) tall.[1]:120

Leaves and stems

Compound pinnate leaves are from 12 to 4 12 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) long, with 7–17 elliptical to inversely lanceolate leaflets.[1]:120

Inflorescence and fruit

It blooms from March to August.[1]:120 The inflorescence are from stalk to 5 inches (13 cm) tall, with multiple flowers on short stems from the stalk.[1]:120 Each ink to purple flower has a calyx tube that is bell-shaped and up to 12 inch (1.3 cm) long, and petals to 14 inch (0.64 cm) long.[1]:120 Seed pods are up to 34 inch (1.9 cm) long, elliptical or curved, and covered with stiff hairs.[1]:120

Habitat and range

It grows only on the Colorado Plateau (endemic) in mixed desert shrub and pinyon juniper forest communities.[1]:120

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7
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