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New Mexico milkvetch
Scientific Name: Astragalus neomexicanus
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Milkvetches and Locoweeds: A Botanical Overview
This page provides information on various species of Astragalus, commonly known as milkvetches and locoweeds. These plants belong to the Fabaceae (Pea) family and are found in diverse habitats, particularly in the southwestern United States.
Considerations for Pets
- Some milkvetch species, such as Emory milkvetch, are reported to be poisonous to livestock like cattle and sheep.
Considerations for Traditional Use
- Among the Zuni Indians of New Mexico, the fresh or dried root of Crescent Milk-vetch (Astragalus amphioxys var. amphioxys) was chewed.
Scientific Classification and Nomenclature
- Genus: Astragalus
- Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
- Species and Varieties Mentioned:
- Astragalus neomexicanus Wooton & Standl. (New Mexico Milkvetch)
- Astragalus kentrophyta A. Gray var. neomexicanus (Barneby) Barneby (New Mexico Spiny Milkvetch)
- Astragalus gracilis (Slender Milkvetch)
- Astragalus humillimus (Mancos Milkvetch)
- Astragalus filipes (Threadstalk Milkvetch)
- Astragalus lentiginosus (Freckled Milkvetch)
- Astragalus missiensis var. humistratus (Pagosa Milkvetch)
- Astragalus cobrensis (Copper Mine Milkvetch)
- Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax (Sentry Milk-vetch)
- Astragalus agnicidus (Humboldt Milk-vetch)
- Astragalus amphioxys var. amphioxys (Crescent Milk-vetch)
- Astragalus crassicarpus (Ground Plum Milkvetch)
- Astragalus allochrous Gray var. allochrous (Hassayampa Milkvetch, Halfmoon Milkvetch)
- Astragalus rusbyi Greene (Rusby’s Milkvetch)
Common Names
- New Mexico Milkvetch
- Mancos Milkvetch
- New Mexico Spiny Milkvetch
- Freckled Milkvetch
- Rattleweed
- Loco Weed
- Slender Milkvetch
- Sheep Loco
- Sheep Milkvetch
- Purple-top
- Beaked Milkvetch
- Copper Mine Milkvetch
- Missi Milkvetch
- Sentry Milk-vetch
- Hassayampa Milkvetch
- Halfmoon Milkvetch
- Ground Plum, Milkvetch
Distribution and Habitat
- These species are primarily found in the United States and Mexico.
- Specific locations mentioned include:
- New Mexico
- Colorado (San Juan County, Montezuma County)
- Arizona
- Texas
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Washington
- Montana
- Oklahoma
- Minnesota
- Sonora, Mexico
- Habitats range from basaltic soils to specific areas like Mancos Canyon, and the Four Corners area.
Morphological Characteristics
- Perennial plants growing from a taproot.
- Stems are clustered.
- Some species are strigulose or pilose with basifixed hairs.
- Some species like Astragalus lentiginosus have pinkish purple flowers.
Ecological Role
- Skiff milkvetch current range has been reduced to just 83 acres because of cheatgrass.
- Packard’s milkvetch needs immediate protection from off-road vehicle use.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Flowers of Mancos milkvetch are frequented by a variety of pollinators.
- Erysiphe astragali is a fungus that interacts with some milkvetch species.
- Emory milkvetch poisoning can occur in cattle and sheep.
Further Information
- A Guide to the Common Locoweeds and Milkvetches of New Mexico: aces.nmsu.edu
- New Mexico Rare Plants Technical Council (NMRPTC)