SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 4338.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "4338" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

woolly locoweed

Scientific Name: Astragalus mollissimus var. coryi

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Woolly Locoweed

Woolly locoweed, also known as wooly loco, purple locoweed, or woolly milkvetch, is a common name for several species within the Astragalus genus. It is particularly used to refer to Astragalus mollissimus and sometimes Oxytropis sericea (white locoweed). The name "locoweed" is derived from the Spanish word for "crazy," reflecting its effect on livestock.

Considerations for Pets

  • Woolly locoweed contains the alkaloid locoine, which can cause livestock to exhibit neurological issues.
  • The plant is known to be toxic to livestock.

Considerations for Children

  • Woolly locoweed is often covered in soft hairs.
  • The plant produces pea-like flowers.

Scientific Classification

  • Scientific Name: Astragalus mollissimus Torr.
  • Common Names: Woolly locoweed, wooly loco, purple locoweed, woolly milkvetch.
  • Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)
  • Synonyms: Astragalus millissimus (misspelling).
  • Subspecies: Astragalus mollissimus var. mollissimus, Astragalus mollissimus var. bigelovii, Astragalus mollissimus ssp. thompsoniae.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Woolly locoweed is native to North America.
  • It is found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands.
  • Specific locations mentioned include Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
  • It is a native range/prairie plant.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Woolly locoweed is a perennial plant.
  • It has a sprawling growth habit.
  • Plants can grow up to 45 centimetres (1 1/2 feet) high.
  • The leaves are fern-like with 19 to 29 oval to oblong leaflets, covered with fine, soft, short hairs.
  • The flowers are purple, lavender, yellow, white, or pink, and pea-like.
  • It produces distinctive white woolly seed pods.

Ecological Role

  • Woolly locoweed is one of the first Astragalus species to flower in Utah.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • It is grazed by livestock, causing toxicity due to the presence of locoine.
  • A specialist weevil exhibits a preference for specific varieties of woolly locoweed.