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alpine milkvetch
Scientific Name: Astragalus alpinus var. alpinus
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Alpine Milkvetch (Astragalus alpinus)
Astragalus alpinus, commonly known as alpine milkvetch or mountain locoweed, is a flowering plant belonging to the legume family.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant is also known as Mountain Locoweed. The term "locoweed" sometimes refers to plants that can be toxic to livestock.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Astragalus alpinus L.
- Common Names: Alpine milkvetch, Alpine Milk-vetch, Mountain Locoweed
- Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae or Pea family)
- Synonyms:
- Phaca alpina (L.) Piper
- Atelophragma alpinum (L.) Rydb.
- Tium alpinum
- Astragalus alpinus var. alpinus
- Astragalus alpinus ssp. alaskanus
Distribution and Habitat
- Alpine milkvetch has a circumboreal and circumpolar distribution.
- It is found across northern North America and Eurasia.
- In New England, it is rare, occurring in Maine and New Hampshire.
- It has been observed in locations such as the Gunnison National Forest, Colorado, and Kvikkjokk - Njunjes (Tarra Valley, Swedish Lapland).
- In Maine, it is restricted to a few river-shore areas.
- It is also found in Scotland.
Morphological Characteristics
- Alpine milk-vetch is described as a loose, straggling plant.
- It has compound leaves composed of 5-11 leaflets.
- The flowers are pea-shaped.
- Flowers are about an inch long with an upper petal that is lavender and lower petals that are white (often with a dark tip).