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freckled milkvetch
Scientific Name: Astragalus lentiginosus var. vitreus
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Biennial, Perennial
Other Names:
Astragalus lentiginosus: Freckled Milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus, a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), is commonly known as spotted locoweed and freckled milkvetch. Other common names include rattleweed and loco weed. It's a perennial herb native to western North America.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant has seed pods.
Considerations for Children
- The plant has seed pods.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Astragalus lentiginosus Douglas ex Hook.
- Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae or Pea Family)
- Synonyms: A. lentignosus diphysus (Gray.)M.E.Jones
- Varieties:
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. albifolius M.E. Jones (northern freckled milkvetch, Owen's Valley milkvetch, northern speckledpod milkvetch)
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. latus (M. E. Jones) M. E. Jones (broad-pod freckled milkvetch)
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. negundo (Box Elder Freckled Milkvetch)
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. idriensis (New Idria Milkvetch)
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. palans
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. nigricalycis
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii (Fremont's Milkvetch)
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to western North America.
- Found in semi-desert environments and open areas.
- Specifically mentioned locations include:
- Mojave Desert (at elevations below 12000 feet)
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
- John Day River area (John Day Fossil Beds National Monument)
- San Joaquin Valley (growing under the shade of oaks and junipers)
- Great Basin National Park, Nevada
- Saline Valley, Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., Calif.
- Also found in:
- Canada (British Columbia)
- Mexico
- United States (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa)
Morphological Characteristics
- Perennial herb growing from a taproot.
- Height: Typically grows to 16 inches, but can range from 6.3 inches to 2 feet (1.6 to 6 dm).
- Stems: Prostrate to ascending, hairless or coated with silver hairs.
- Leaves: Linear to widely oval, divided into 19 oval leaflets, which grow to 5/8 inches in length.
- Blooms: April-July
- Seed pods: 1 inch long, hairy and freckled with red.
- Color: Purple
Quirky Facts
- Some subspecies, like the Coachella Valley Milk-vetch and the Fish Slough Milk-vetch, are on the U.S. Endangered Species list.
- The plant is also known as "loco weed," and "rattleweed" referring to the sound of the seed pods.