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painted milkvetch
Scientific Name: Astragalus ceramicus var. apus
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Painted Milkvetch (Astragalus ceramicus)
Painted Milkvetch, also known as ceramic milk vetch or painted milk-vetch, is a perennial herb belonging to the pea family.
Considerations for Pets
- Many members of the Astragalus genus are known to contain toxic compounds.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Astragalus ceramicus Sheldon
- Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae) - Pea Family
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms: A. ceramicus
- Subordinate Taxa:
- Astragalus ceramicus var. ceramicus
- Astragalus ceramicus var. filifolius (A. Gray) F. J. Herm.
- Astragalus cermicus E. Sheldon var. Orobus longifolius Nutt.
- Astragalus ceramicus var. apus
- USDA Symbol: ASCE
Distribution and Habitat
- Painted Milkvetch is found in the upper Snake River Plains of southeast Idaho and adjacent Montana.
- It is also considered native to Texas and other states.
- It is specifically endemic to dunes and sandy areas.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is a perennial herb growing from a taproot, typically reaching a height of 3 to 40 cm (1.2 inches to 1.3 feet).
- The plant has pinnate leaves with 4 long, filamentous leaflets.
- It's considered a spineless plant (Armament: spineless).
- The species has a weak stem growing from a slender, branched, hardened stem base.
- The seedpod is large, conspicuous, and filled with air. The pod is also described as having a mottled appearance.
- It is a sparsely leafy perennial.
- It is not an evergreen and loses its leaves in the autumn.
Quirky Facts
- The species name "ceramicus" is derived from the Greek word for pottery, referring to the pottery-like appearance of the seed pods.