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barren milkvetch

Scientific Name: Astragalus cusickii var. sterilis

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Barren Milkvetch (Astragalus cusickii var. sterilis)

Common Names

  • Barren Milkvetch
  • Sterile Milkvetch
  • Cusick's Milkvetch
  • Packard's Milkvetch

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Astragalus cusickii A. Gray var. sterilis (Barneby) Barneby
  • Family: Fabaceae (Pea or Legume Family)
  • Synonyms:
    • Astragalus sterilis
    • Phaca cusickii (A. Gray) Rydb.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Inhabits dry, barren ashy areas on gravelly and sandy clay bluffs.
  • Found on dry, hard, white, barren saline, clay flats, knolls, and slopes.
  • Specific locations include Nye County, Nevada and the Amargosa River area.
  • Also found in deep, barren, sandy, gravelly, or clay soils derived from sandstone.
  • Occupies open eroding slopes, ridgetops, barren clay buttes, and dry subalpine meadows.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Slender, sparsely leafy perennial.
  • Clustered stems, typically 10-70 cm tall.

Additional Astragalus Species Mentioned:

  • Astragalus canadensis (Canada Milkvetch, Canadian Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus atratus var. owyheensis (Owyhee Mning Milk-vetch)
  • Astragalus camptopus
  • Astragalus vallaris (Stiff Milkvetch or Idaho Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus conjunctus (Packard's Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus cusickii var. packardiae (Barren Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus terminalis (Railhead Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus eremiticus (Hermit Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus atratus (Mning Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus nuttallianus (Smallflowered Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus neglectus (Cooper's Milk Vetch)
  • Astragalus drabelliformis
  • Astragalus adsurgens (Erect Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus diaphanus
  • Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren's Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus jaegerianus (Lane Mountain Milkvetch)
  • Astragalus tennesseensis (Milk-vetch)
  • Astragalus distortus (Ozark Milk-vetch)