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Idaho milkvetch

Scientific Name: Astragalus conjunctus var. conjunctus

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Astragalus conjunctus

Common names include: Idaho milkvetch and stiff milkvetch.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Astragalus conjunctus S. Watson
  • Variety: Astragalus conjunctus var. conjunctus
  • Variety: Astragalus conjunctus var. rickardii S.L. Welsh, K.A. Beck &amp F. Caplow
  • Family: Fabaceae (based on mention of a related species)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Primarily found in Idaho and Oregon (specifically slopes along OR Highway 219 east of the Deschutes).
  • Some related milkvetch species are found in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, and New Mexico.

Ecological Role

  • Cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer), is used for soil stabilization and conservation plantings.

Related Species

  • Astragalus leptaleus (park milkvetch)
  • Astragalus vexilliflexus var. vexilliflexus (bent-flowered milkvetch)
  • Astragalus cusickii var. packardiae (Packard's milkvetch)
  • Astragalus mulfordiae (Mulford's milkvetch)
  • Astragalus agrestis S. Watson (field milk-vetch)
  • Astragalus cicer (chickpea milkvetch)
  • Astragalus terminalus
  • Astragalus columbianus (Columbia milk-vetch)
  • Astragalus diversifolius (Meadow milkvetch)
  • Astragalus ceramicus var. ceramicus

Additional Information

  • Packard's milkvetch (Astragalus cusickii var. packardiae) is considered one of the rarest plants in Idaho, discovered in 1980. Its known distribution is very limited.
  • Cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer) is a non-bloat legume used for hay, pasture, and soil stabilization.

Resources

  • Idaho Conservation Data Center
  • Discover Life (for biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution information)
  • Idaho Native Plant Society (Sage Notes publication)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USDI FWS) in Idaho