SafePlants

Plateau Milkvetch (Astragalus serpens)

Astragalus serpens, commonly known as Plateau Milkvetch, is a forb/herb belonging to the genus Astragalus.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant is related to locoweed.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Astragalus serpens M.E. Jones
• Common Name: Plateau Milkvetch
• Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family or Legume Family)
• Genus: Astragalus L. (milkvetch, astragales, locoweed)
• Synonyms: Multiple other Astragalus species and varieties are mentioned throughout the text, indicating a complex taxonomic history and relationship within the genus. These include:
  • Astragalus nuttallianus var. pleianthus
  • Astragalus lentiginosus Hook. var. kernensis (Jepson) Barneby (Kern Plateau Milk Vetch)
  • Astragalus pleianthus (Shinners) Isely (Edwards Plateau Milkvetch)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to: Alaska (AK), Canada (CAN), and the Lower 48 United States (L48).
• Specifically mentioned regions include the Modoc Plateau, Edwards Plateau, Columbia Plateau, Loess Plateau, and the Colorado Plateau.
• It is typically found on the edges of hills and plateau formations.

Ecological Role

• Milk vetch is used to control soil and water erosion, particularly on the Loess Plateau in China.
• Some species are considered endangered in specific locations, like the DeBeque milkvetch in Colorado.

Morphological Characteristics

• Classified as a forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
• The Plateau Milkvetch can grow to a relatively large size, reaching up to 17 meters in height.
• It is not an evergreen, meaning it loses its leaves in the autumn and assumes a yellow coloring.
• Some varieties, such as Kern Plateau Milk Vetch (Astragalus lentiginosus var. kernensis), have stems that range from 2 to 12 cm.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Root-invading fungi interact with milk vetch (Astragalus adsurgens).