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Crescent milkvetch

Scientific Name: Astragalus amphioxys var. modestus

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual, Perennial

Other Names:

Astragalus amphioxys, commonly known as Crescent Milkvetch, is a perennial forb native to the American southwest.

This plant belongs to the Milk Vetch family, some members of which are referred to as Locoweeds.
The fruit is a pod, curved and pointed at both ends.

Scientific Name: Astragalus amphioxys A. Gray
Common Name: Crescent Milkvetch
Family: Fabaceae (also referred to as Leguminosae or Pea Family)
Variety: Astragalus amphioxys var. amphioxys, Astragalus amphioxys var. musimonum (Barneby) Barneby, Astragalus amphioxys var. sonorae
Synonyms: While not explicitly listed as synonyms, alternative names include Shivwits Milkvetch, Ground-crescent Milkvetch, and Western Crescent Milkvetch

Found in the American southwest.
Specific locations include: Arches National Park, Utah; Glen Canyon near Bullfrog; and the Four Corners region.
Grows in sandy areas, arid grasslands, open desert, and pinyon-juniper forests.
Prefers sandy or gravelly soils.
It has been observed on slickrock.

A perennial forb (non-woody plant that is not a grass).
Grows from a taproot, reaching a height of 8 to 18 inches (2 to 35 cm).
Has grayish-green oval leaflets covered with fine hairs, which grow in groupings.
The flowers are purple and resemble those of pea plants.
The seed pods are crescent-shaped, 0.75-2 inches (2-5 cm) long, with only one chamber and a lower seam.

The Zuni people traditionally use this plant medicinally, specifically the fresh or dried root.
It has been used as a snake bite remedy by the Zuni.

Despite its delicate appearance, Crescent Milkvetch is known to be "tough as nails."