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freckled milkvetch

Scientific Name: Astragalus lentiginosus var. ambiguus

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Astragalus lentiginosus: Freckled Milkvetch

Astragalus lentiginosus is a legume species known by the common names spotted locoweed and freckled milkvetch. It is also referred to as rattleweed and loco weed.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is also known as rattleweed, suggesting the presence of seed pods that might be attractive to pets.
  • It is also known as loco weed.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Astragalus lentiginosus Douglas ex Hook.
  • Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae), the Pea Family.
  • Synonyms: A. lentignosus diphysus (Gray.) M.E. Jones.
  • Varieties:
    • Astragalus lentiginosus var. palans
    • Astragalus lentiginosus var. albifolius M.E. Jones (northern freckled milkvetch, Owen's Valley milkvetch, northern speckledpod milkvetch)
    • Astragalus lentiginosus Douglas ex Hooker var. latus (M. E. Jones) M. E. Jones (broad-pod freckled milkvetch)
    • Astragalus lentiginosus var. negundo
    • Astragalus lentiginosus var. idriensis
    • Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to western North America.
  • Found in various locations including:
    • Canada (British Columbia)
    • Mexico
    • United States (including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada and Utah)
    • Mojave Desert (in dry, open areas below 12000 feet).
    • Grows under the shade of oaks, junipers and slopes along the west and south side of the San Joaquin Valley.
    • Near the John Day River.
    • Saline Valley, Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., Calif.
  • Prefers semi-desert environments and openings.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Perennial herb growing from a taproot.
  • Height ranges from 6.3 inches to 2 feet (1.6 to 6 dm) tall.
  • Leaves are linear to widely oval, divided into 19 oval leaflets.
  • Stems are prostrate to ascending, hairless or coated with silver hairs.
  • Blooms April-July
  • Height 4 to 20"

Quirky Facts

  • Some subspecies of the Freckled Milk-vetch are on the U.S. Endangered Species list, such as the Coachella Valley Milk-vetch and the Fish Slough Milk-vetch.