Grows best in loamy, medium draining soil. Selection from Davis, CA.

Asclepias subulata is a species of milkweed known commonly as the rush milkweed or ajamete. This is an erect perennial herb which loses its leaves early in the season and stands as a cluster of naked stalks. Atop the stems are flower clusters of distinctive flowers. Each cream-white flower has a reflexed corolla that reveals the inner parts, a network of five shiny columns, each topped with a tiny hook. The fruit is a pouchlike follicle that contains many flat, oval seeds with long, silky hairlike plumes. This milkweed is native to the desert southwest of the United States and northern Mexico.

Asclepias vestita is a species of milkweed known by the common name woolly milkweed. It is endemic to California, where it grows in many habitats across the state, from mountains to desert to valley. This is a robust perennial herb growing mostly upright or slightly bending. The thick leaves are oval to narrowly lance-shaped. The stem and leaves often have a coat of light-colored hairs, sometimes thick and woolly. The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped array to a spherical cluster of yellowish flowers. The flowers may be tinted with brown or purple. The fruit is a large yellowish follicle containing many silky-haired seeds.

Astragalus acutirostris is a species of milkvetch known by the common name sharpkeel milkvetch. It is native to the Mojave Desert and surroundings of California, Nevada, and Arizona, where it grows in dry, sandy, gravelly areas. Astragalus acutirostris is an annual legume growing a hairy reddish stem no more than 30 centimeters long along the ground or slightly upright. The small leaves are made up of several pairs of small oblong leaflets, each less than a centimeter long and often with notched tips. The inflorescence contains one to six white or pinkish-tinted pealike flowers, each with a banner that curves back. Astragalus acutirostris is an annual legume growing a hairy reddish stem no more than 30 centimeters long along the ground or slightly upright. The small leaves are made up of several pairs of small oblong leaflets, each less than a centimeter long and often with notched tips. The inflorescence contains one to six white or pinkish-tinted pealike flowers, each with a banner that curves back. The fruit is a slightly curved, narrow legume pod 1 to 3 centimeters long. The pod is thin-walled and coated sparsely in white hairs like the rest of the plant.

Astragalus agnicidus is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Humboldt County milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California, where it is known only from two populations in Humboldt County and one in Mendocino County. The plant was undescribed until the 1950s. Until then it was known only from one 8-acre (32,000 m2) ranch in Humboldt County, where sheep ranchers blamed the unnamed species for the deaths of their animals, which may have eaten it. They eradicated the plant from their land, and by the time it was formally described and named in 1957 it was thought to be extinct. The species name given the plant, agnicidus, means "lamb-killer".

Astragalus agrestis is a species of milkvetch known by the common names purple milkvetch, purple loco, and field milkvetch. It is native to much of western and northern North America from most of Canada to the southwestern United States, as well as eastern Asia. It grows in vernally moist areas such as meadows, and is often found in sagebrush. This is a perennial herb growing a slender but sturdy stem from an underground caudex. It leans or grows upright to a maximum height near 30 centimeters. The stem is often roughly hairy. Alternately arranged leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and made up of several pairs of leaflets up to 2 centimeters long each. They are oval to lance-shaped and may have notched tips. The inflorescence is an oval-shaped cluster of up to 15 purple or pink-tinted to nearly white pealike flowers. Each flower is up to 2 centimeters long. This is a perennial herb growing a slender but sturdy stem from an underground caudex. It leans or grows upright to a maximum height near 30 centimeters. The stem is often roughly hairy. Alternately arranged leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and made up of several pairs of leaflets up to 2 centimeters long each. They are oval to lance-shaped and may have notched tips. The inflorescence is an oval-shaped cluster of up to 15 purple or pink-tinted to nearly white pealike flowers. Each flower is up to 2 centimeters long. The fruit is an oval-shaped legume pod up to a centimeter long. It is dark colored with white hairs and dries to a papery texture.

Astragalus albens is a species of milkvetch known by the common names Cushenbury milkvetch and silvery-white milkvetch. It is endemic to San Bernardino County, California, where it is known from the northern slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains near the settlement of Cushenbury. Most of the plants are located in the woodland and scrub of the slopes between Big Bear in the mountains and Lucerne Valley in the Mojave Desert at the foot of the range. It grows in habitat rich in carbonate rock. It is a federally listed endangered species which is known from 30 to 50 populations. There are a total of about 7000 plants, fewer in drought years. Astragalus albens is an annual or perennial herb producing a prostrate mat of delicate stems coated densely in silvery hairs. The leaves are generally a few centimeters long and made up of several gray-green oval-shaped leaflets less than a centimeter long each. The inflorescence arises upright from the low patch of foliage and bears up to 14 pealike flowers. Each flower is dark-veined light to deep purple with a spot of white or light pink in the throat. The fruit is a legume pod between one and two centimeters long. It is roughly hairy and crescent-shaped, drying to a thick papery texture. The main threat to this species is limestone mining, a large industry in this part of the San Bernardino Mountains. This form of mining alters the local habitat by physically removing plant life for quarries, road construction, and load dumping. It also produces major changes in the hydrology of the area and releases large amounts of carbonate dust into the air which combines with water and forms a very thin layer of what is essentially cement over the habitat. Most of the populations of this plant are located on sites of active mining or sites which are targeted for mining in the future. Most of these sites are part of San Bernardino National Forest, and there are plans to set aside pieces of habitat for this and other endemics. Other threats to the species include off-road vehicle use and urban development.

Astragalus andersonii is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Anderson's milkvetch. It is native to eastern California and western Nevada, where it is found in the plateaus at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, including the Modoc Plateau. This is a small perennial herb forming a thick patch on the ground, the stems reaching about 20 centimeters in maximum length. The plant is coated in dense gray to white wavy hairs. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and made up of several oval-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a projecting or upright array of 12 to 26 pealike flowers. Each flower is white, often purple-tinted or purple-veined, and between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a curved legume pod 1 to 2 centimeters long. This is a small perennial herb forming a thick patch on the ground, the stems reaching about 20 centimeters in maximum length. The plant is coated in dense gray to white wavy hairs. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and made up of several oval-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a projecting or upright array of 12 to 26 pealike flowers. Each flower is white, often purple-tinted or purple-veined, and between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a curved legume pod 1 to 2 centimeters long. It is coated in very long white hairs and dries to a thick papery texture, the beans inside rattling with the wind.

Astragalus anxius is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common names troubled milkvetch and Ash Valley milkvetch. It is endemic to northern Lassen County, California, where it grows in the volcanic soil of the Modoc Plateau. It was formally described in 1992. There are only 6 known occurrences, some of which are threatened by livestock trampling. Astragalus anxius is a perennial herb forming a matted patch of slender, delicate stems no longer than 20 centimeters. It is coated thinly in wavy hairs. The leaves are a few centimeters long and made up of several leaflets. The inflorescence contains 7 to 15 pealike flowers. Each flower is bicolored, the lower petals usually white and the upper banner petals purple to purple-veined white. The fruit is a hairy, oval-shaped legume pod up to half a centimeter long which dries to a papery texture. Astragalus anxius is a perennial herb forming a matted patch of slender, delicate stems no longer than 20 centimeters. It is coated thinly in wavy hairs. The leaves are a few centimeters long and made up of several leaflets. The inflorescence contains 7 to 15 pealike flowers. Each flower is bicolored, the lower petals usually white and the upper banner petals purple to purple-veined white. The fruit is a hairy, oval-shaped legume pod up to half a centimeter long which dries to a papery texture.

Astragalus asymmetricus is a species of milkvetch known by the common name San Joaquin milkvetch. It is endemic to California, where it grows in grassy and disturbed areas in the Central Valley and nearby parts of the Central Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay Area. This is a sturdy perennial herb growing a thick, erect stem to heights between 50 and 120 centimeters. It is coated in long hairs. The leaves are up to 20 centimeters long and are made up of many pairs of leaflike leaflets, each up to 2.5 centimeters long and varying in shape from linear to oval. The flower cluster contains 15 to 45 cream-colored pealike flowers 1 to 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a slightly inflated hairy legume pod up to 4 centimeters long which hangs in bunches from the dried flower cluster.

Astragalus austiniae is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Austin's milkvetch. It is native to the Sierra Nevada of California and Nevada in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe. It is a plant of the alpine climate of the high mountains, where it tolerates exposed areas. Astragalus austiniae is a dwarfed perennial herb forming small clumps in the rock litter no taller than about 11 centimeters. Stems and foliage are coated densely in cottony, silvery hairs. The leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and are made up of several keeled oval-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a woolly headlike cluster of 4 to 14 pink or purple-tinted white pealike flowers each around a centimeter long. Astragalus austiniae is a dwarfed perennial herb forming small clumps in the rock litter no taller than about 11 centimeters. Stems and foliage are coated densely in cottony, silvery hairs. The leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and are made up of several keeled oval-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a woolly headlike cluster of 4 to 14 pink or purple-tinted white pealike flowers each around a centimeter long. The fruit is a woolly legume pod less than a centimeter long.

Astragalus bernardinus, known by the common name San Bernardino milkvetch, is a species of milkvetch. It is a plant of desert and dry mountain slope habitat. The plant is native to the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. It is also found in the Mojave Desert sky islands, in the Ivanpah Mountains and nearby New York Mountains which straddle the California-Nevada state line. The plant is native to the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. It is also found in the Mojave Desert sky islands, in the Ivanpah Mountains and nearby New York Mountains which straddle the California-Nevada state line. Astragalus bernardinus is a slender, wiry perennial herb growing in twisted clumps, sometimes clinging to other plants for support. The stems are 10 to 50 centimeters long and mostly naked, coated partly in stiff hairs. The leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of widely spaced pairs of lance-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a loose cluster of up to 25 light purple pealike flowers. The fruit is a pale-colored legume pod up to 3 centimeters long which dries to a papery texture.

Astragalus bicristatus is a species of milkvetch known by the common names crested milkvetch and two-crested milkvetch. It is endemic to southern California, where it grows in the coniferous forests of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains of the Transverse Ranges. Astragalus bicristatus is a perennial herb sprawling outwards with stems to a maximum length approaching half a meter. The leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of very widely spaced narrow linear leaflets. The stems and foliage have sparse grayish hairs, giving them a rough texture. The inflorescence is a loose array of up to 20 pealike flowers. Each flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long and is purple-tinted white to light greenish yellow. Astragalus bicristatus is a perennial herb sprawling outwards with stems to a maximum length approaching half a meter. The leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of very widely spaced narrow linear leaflets. The stems and foliage have sparse grayish hairs, giving them a rough texture. The inflorescence is a loose array of up to 20 pealike flowers. Each flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long and is purple-tinted white to light greenish yellow. The fruit is a hanging capsule 2 to 4 centimeters long and curved or crescent-shaped. It is fleshy when immature and leathery to woody when dried.

Astragalus bolanderi is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Bolander's milkvetch. It is native to western Nevada and parts of the Sierra Nevada in California. It grows in dry, rocky habitat on mountain and plateau. Astragalus bolanderi is a perennial herb producing erect, drooping, or creeping stems up to 40 centimeters long. The stems are mostly naked, with a sparse coat of long, wavy hairs and a few leaves on the upper parts. The leaves are up to 16 centimeters long and are made up of very widely spaced oval to nearly lance-shaped leaflets each up to 2 centimeters long. The leaflet has a hard midrib that ends in a point at the tip. Astragalus bolanderi is a perennial herb producing erect, drooping, or creeping stems up to 40 centimeters long. The stems are mostly naked, with a sparse coat of long, wavy hairs and a few leaves on the upper parts. The leaves are up to 16 centimeters long and are made up of very widely spaced oval to nearly lance-shaped leaflets each up to 2 centimeters long. The leaflet has a hard midrib that ends in a point at the tip. The inflorescence is a dense cluster of 7 to 18 pealike flowers. Each flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long and is purple-tinted white. The fruit is an inflated, curved legume pod up to 3 centimeters long. It dries to a thick papery texture.

Astragalus brauntonii is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Braunton's milkvetch. It is endemic to California, where it is known from fewer than 20 extant occurrences in the hills and mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin in Southern California. This is a federally listed endangered species in the United States. Astragalus brauntonii is a plant of the coastal prairie grasslands, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral plant communities of the region. It is often found growing in disturbed areas, especially in carbonate soils areas. The 16 known remaining populations are found in the southwestern Transverse Ranges (eastern Santa Monica Mountains, east end Simi Hills, south base San Gabriel Mountains), northern Peninsular Ranges (northwest side Santa Ana Mountains) - within Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties. They appear to be extirpated from the southern Channel Islands. Braunton's milkvetch is a large perennial herb which grows from a woody caudex and reaches up to 1. 5-metre (4. 9 ft) tall. The thick hollow stems are coated in coarse white hairs. Leaves are up to 16-centimetre (6. 3 in) long and are made up of many pairs of oval-shaped leaflike leaflets. The inflorescence is a dense spike of up to 60 bright lilac flowers. Each pealike flower is about a centimeter long with a reflexed hood. The flowers wither and turn brown but remain on the plant instead of dropping off. The plant is pollinated by native Megachile bees and native bumble bees (i. e. Bombus sp. ). The fruit is a small bent legume pod. Fire ecology. This plant, like many chaparral species, is fire-adapted and requires wildfire or other disturbance to propagate. The beanlike seeds require scarification to break down their tough seed coats before they can germinate. The seeds persist for years in the soil until fire allows them to sprout, with populations of the plant springing up in an area that has been recently swept by wildfire. It is a pioneer species, one of the first to grow in a disturbed area and one that is soon crowded out by plant species that appear later in ecological succession. Wildfire suppression in the hills and mountains surrounding Los Angeles prevent the plant from reproducing.

Astragalus breweri is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Brewer's milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California, where it is found in several counties surrounding the north edge of the San Francisco Bay Area. It grows in open habitat in the North Coast Ranges, sometimes on serpentine soils. This is a small annual herb producing stems usually only a few centimeters long. The small leaves are made up of widely spaced leaflets with notched tips. The inflorescence arises on a rough-haired peduncle and holds up to ten pealike flowers. Each flower is about a centimeter long and colored white, yellow, or pale lavender, sometimes with light purple streaks. The fruit is an oval-shaped legume pod up to a centimeter long armed with a sharp beak. It contains 2 to 6 beanlike seeds. This is a small annual herb producing stems usually only a few centimeters long. The small leaves are made up of widely spaced leaflets with notched tips. The inflorescence arises on a rough-haired peduncle and holds up to ten pealike flowers. Each flower is about a centimeter long and colored white, yellow, or pale lavender, sometimes with light purple streaks. The fruit is an oval-shaped legume pod up to a centimeter long armed with a sharp beak. It contains 2 to 6 beanlike seeds.

Astragalus californicus is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Klamath Basin milkvetch. It is native to the Klamath Mountains and surrounding High Cascade Ranges of northern California and southern Oregon, where it grows in scrub and woodland habitat. Astragalus californicus is a perennial herb forming a sturdy open clump of upright stems growing up to 1. 5 feet (0. 46 m) tall. The leaves are several centimeters long and made up of green leaflike leaflets. The inflorescence is a loose array of light yellow to cream-colored pealike flowers, each between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a hanging legume pod 3 or 4 centimeters long. It is flat and narrow, with a hairy surface, and it dries to a thick papery texture.

Torrey's Milkvetch (Astragalus calycosus) is a native perennial herb that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Desert Mountains region. It tends to grow in rocky places, at elevations from 4900-11600 feet.

Astragalus canadensis is a common and widespread member of the milkvetch genus in the legume family, known commonly as Canadian milkvetch. The plant is found throughout Canada and the United States in many habitats including wetlands, woodlands, and prairies. It sends out several thin, erect, green stems, bearing leaves that are actually made up of pairs of leaflets, each leaflet up to 3 centimeters in length. It has flower clusters of tubular, greenish-white flowers which yield beanlike fruits within pods that rattle when dry. Like other Astragalus species, A. canadensis is somewhat toxic, but it has been used medicinally by Native American groups such as the Blackfoot and Lakota people, particularly the roots.

Astragalus casei is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Case's milkvetch. It is native to the Mojave Desert and its sky island woodlands of eastern California and western Nevada. Astragalus casei is a wiry, branching perennial herb forming an open clump of jagged stems up to 40 centimeters long. Leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and made up of thin, narrow, lance-shaped leaflets. The plant bears an inflorescence of up to 25 pink, lilac, or white flowers. Each flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long. Astragalus casei is a wiry, branching perennial herb forming an open clump of jagged stems up to 40 centimeters long. Leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and made up of thin, narrow, lance-shaped leaflets. The plant bears an inflorescence of up to 25 pink, lilac, or white flowers. Each flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a hanging legume pod 2 to 5 centimeters long. It is narrow, slightly hairy, and tipped with a sharp beak. It is pulpy when new and it dries to a tough texture.

Astragalus cimae is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Cima milkvetch. It is native to the Mojave Desert and its sky island woodlands of eastern California western Nevada, especially on calcareous soils, including the Cima Dome area in the Mojave National Preserve. Astragalus cimae is a spreading perennial herb with somewhat fleshy stems up to about 25 centimeters long. Leaves are up to 11 centimeters long and made up of oval or rounded leaflets. The plant bears an inflorescence of up to 25 flowers with reddish or pinkish purple petals sometimes tipped with white. Each flower is between 1 and 1. 5 centimeters long. The fruit is a legume pod with usually two inflated chambers. Astragalus cimae is a spreading perennial herb with somewhat fleshy stems up to about 25 centimeters long. Leaves are up to 11 centimeters long and made up of oval or rounded leaflets. The plant bears an inflorescence of up to 25 flowers with reddish or pinkish purple petals sometimes tipped with white. Each flower is between 1 and 1. 5 centimeters long. The fruit is a legume pod with usually two inflated chambers.

Astragalus clarianus (orth. var. A. claranus) is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common names Clara Hunt's milkvetch and Napa milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California where it is known from only four or five occurrences along the border between Sonoma and Napa Counties. It is a federally listed endangered species. This is an annual herb producing thin stems covered in tiny rough hairs. The plant reaches up to 12 centimeters tall. The small leaves are made up of a few pairs of oval-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a small cluster of 2 to 7 flowers. Each flower is about a centimeter long and has white petals with bright deep purple tips. The fruit is a papery legume pod around 2 centimeters long. It is tapered at both ends, hairy in texture, and it bears a sharp beak at one end. The plant was named for the California schoolteacher and amateur botanist Clara Adele Pike Blodgett Hunt. Ecology. This rare plant faces several threats, including invasive species, urban development, the establishment of vineyards in its habitat, grazing, trampling, alterations in the water regime, recreation, and road and airport maintenance activities.

Astragalus clevelandii is an uncommon species of milkvetch known by the common name Cleveland's milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California, where it grows in moist areas of the North Coast Ranges. It is a member of the serpentine soils flora. Astragalus clevelandii is a bushy perennial herb growing up to a meter tall. Its plentiful leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of many oval-shaped leaflets. The plant is mostly hairless, but the leaves may have rough hairs on the undersides. The large inflorescence is a spike of up to 100 small pealike flowers, each under a centimeter long. They are white or off-white in color. Astragalus clevelandii is a bushy perennial herb growing up to a meter tall. Its plentiful leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of many oval-shaped leaflets. The plant is mostly hairless, but the leaves may have rough hairs on the undersides. The large inflorescence is a spike of up to 100 small pealike flowers, each under a centimeter long. They are white or off-white in color. The fruit is a legume pod less than a centimeter long which dries to a thick papery texture.

Astragalus congdonii is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Congdon's milkvetch. Astragalus congdonii is a hairy perennial herb growing to heights between 20 and 70 centimeters. The sparse leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of oval-shaped leaflets. The large, open inflorescence bears up to 35 cream-colored flowers, each about 1 to 1. 5 centimeters long. The fruit is a narrow legume pod up to 3. 5 centimeters long which dries to a thick papery texture. Astragalus congdonii is endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California.

Astragalus crotalariae is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Salton milkvetch. It is native to the Colorado Desert in California and other Sonoran Deserts in Arizona and northern Mexico. It grows in desert scrub habitat, including the Salton Sink in the Coachella Valley. Astragalus crotalariae is a bushy perennial herb growing to heights between 15 and 60 centimeters. It is roughly hairy and has an unpleasant scent. The leaves are up to 16 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of thick oval-shaped to rounded leaflets. The open inflorescence bears up to 25 reddish purple flowers, each 2 to 3 centimeters long. The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 3 centimeters long. It is usually roughly hairy and dries to a thick papery texture. Selenium. Like many other Astragalus species, this plant accumulates selenium from the soil. It has also been shown to harbor a selenium-metabolizing Bacillus species in its seed pods.

Astragalus curtipes is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Morro milkvetch. It is endemic to the Central Coast of California, including the Morro Bay area in San Luis Obispo County. Morro milkvetch is a clumpy perennial herb with a dense coat of rough, woolly hairs. The gray-green leaves are up to 16 centimeters long and are made up of fuzzy leaflets which are long and narrow in shape. The plant bears a dense inflorescence of up to 35 flowers, each about 1. 5 centimeters long. The flowers are cream-colored and sometimes tipped with lilac. Morro milkvetch is a clumpy perennial herb with a dense coat of rough, woolly hairs. The gray-green leaves are up to 16 centimeters long and are made up of fuzzy leaflets which are long and narrow in shape. The plant bears a dense inflorescence of up to 35 flowers, each about 1. 5 centimeters long. The flowers are cream-colored and sometimes tipped with lilac. The fruit is an inflated legume pod 2 to 3 centimeters long which dries to a thin, papery texture. Its single chamber contains many seeds.

Astragalus deanei is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Dean's milkvetch, or Deane's milkvetch. It is endemic to southern San Diego County, California, where it grows on the slopes of the Peninsular Ranges between El Cajon and Tecate. Astragalus deanei is mostly hairless perennial herb growing erect to heights between 30 and 60 centimeters. The leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets with prominent midribs. Astragalus deanei is mostly hairless perennial herb growing erect to heights between 30 and 60 centimeters. The leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets with prominent midribs. The open inflorescence holds up to 25 whitish flowers, each 1 to 1. 5 centimeters long. The fruit is an inflated legume pod 1. 5 to 3 centimeters long which dries to a thin, papery texture. Its single chamber contains many seeds.

Astragalus didymocarpus is a species of milkvetch known by the common names dwarf white milkvetch and two-seeded milkvetch. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat. Astragalus didymocarpus is a slender, hairy annual herb growing erect to about 30 centimeters tall, drooping, or flat on the ground in a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 7 or 8 centimeters long and are made up of narrow to oblong leaflets. The inflorescence is a cluster of up to 30 purple-tinted white flowers, each under a centimeter long. The inflorescence is covered in long black and white hairs. Astragalus didymocarpus is a slender, hairy annual herb growing erect to about 30 centimeters tall, drooping, or flat on the ground in a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 7 or 8 centimeters long and are made up of narrow to oblong leaflets. The inflorescence is a cluster of up to 30 purple-tinted white flowers, each under a centimeter long. The inflorescence is covered in long black and white hairs. The fruit is a small, spherical legume pod a few millimeters wide which dries to a stiff papery texture. Varieties: There are several varieties of Astragalus didymocarpus: A. d. var. didymocarpus - erect herb found in western Nevada and much of California, A. d. var. dispermus - prostrate form native to the desert regions, A. d. var. milesianus (Miles' milkvetch) - rare variety found only along the Central Coast of CaliforniaA. d. var. obispoensis - form with ascending stems native to coastal southern California and Baja California

Astragalus douglasii is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Douglas' milkvetch. It is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in many types of desert, valley, chaparral and woodlands, and montane habitats. Astragalus douglasii is a bushy perennial herb producing a number of erect or prostrate stems up to a meter long. The abundant leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets. The open inflorescence holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long. Astragalus douglasii is a bushy perennial herb producing a number of erect or prostrate stems up to a meter long. The abundant leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets. The open inflorescence holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long. The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 6 centimeters long and 3 wide which dries to a thin, papery texture. Varieties: There are three varieties of Astragalus douglasii:A. d. var. douglasii - limited to CaliforniaA. d. var. parishii (Parish's milkvetch) - found throughout the mountain ranges of Southern CaliforniaA. d. var. perstrictus (Jacumba milkvetch) - rare variety limited to San Diego County, California, and northern Baja California

Astragalus ertterae is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Walker Pass milkvetch. It is endemic to California, where it is known from only three occurrences near Walker Pass in the Sierra Nevada. Astragalus ertterae is hairy perennial herb with a stem no more than 10 centimeters long, much of which grows underground. There are 4 or 5 leaves which are a few centimeters long and made up of several oval-shaped leaflets. The dense inflorescence holds up to 17 cream-colored flowers, each about a centimeter long. The fruit is a swollen, hairless legume pod which dries to a leathery texture. Astragalus ertterae is hairy perennial herb with a stem no more than 10 centimeters long, much of which grows underground. There are 4 or 5 leaves which are a few centimeters long and made up of several oval-shaped leaflets. The dense inflorescence holds up to 17 cream-colored flowers, each about a centimeter long. The fruit is a swollen, hairless legume pod which dries to a leathery texture.

Astragalus filipes is a species of milkvetch known by the common name basalt milkvetch. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it grows in many types of habitat, especially dry areas. Astragalus filipes is a clumpy perennial herb growing 30 to 90 centimeters tall. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long and made up of several widely spaced leaflets which are linear to oval in shape. The open inflorescence holds up to 30 off-white to pale yellow flowers each 1 to 1. 5 centimeters long. Astragalus filipes is a clumpy perennial herb growing 30 to 90 centimeters tall. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long and made up of several widely spaced leaflets which are linear to oval in shape. The open inflorescence holds up to 30 off-white to pale yellow flowers each 1 to 1. 5 centimeters long. The fruit is a hanging legume pod up to 3 centimeters long. It is long and thin and dries to a papery texture.

Astragalus funereus is an uncommon species of milkvetch known by the common names Funeral Mountain milkvetch and black milkvetch. The Latin name funereus and common name "Funeral Mountain milkvetch" refers to a population in the Funeral Mountains of Death Valley in California. Astragalus funereus is a small tufted perennial herb coated densely in stiff hairs. The stems are up to 8 centimeters long. The short leaves are made up of several hairy oval-shaped leaflets growing close together. The inflorescence contains up to 10 flowers and is covered in black hairs. The flowers are 2 to 3 centimeters long and pink and purple streaked. The fruit is a compressed, lance-shaped legume pod up to 5 centimeters long. It is leathery and coated in white hairs.

Astragalus gambelianus is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Gambel's dwarf milkvetch. It is native to California, with its distribution extending into Oregon to the north and Baja California to the south. It grows in many types of habitat. This is an annual herb with slender stems reaching a maximum of 30 centimeters long, but generally remaining shorter. A dwarf milkvetch, it is smaller than most other species of its genus. The leaves are less than 4 centimeters long and are made up of several oblong leaflets, each a few millimeters in length. The flower cluster holds up to 15 purple-tinted white flowers, each generally less than 6 millimeters long. The herbage of the flower cluster is coated in black hairs. The fruit is a tiny rounded or oval legume pod just a few millimeters long.

Elmer's Dwarf Milk Vetch (Astragalus gambelianus var. elmeri) is a native annual herb that grows in central California.

Astragalus gibbsii is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Gibbs' milkvetch. It is native to eastern California, the north-central Sierra Nevada, and western Nevada, where it grows in the pine forest habitat of the mountains and the sagebrush of the plateaus. Astragalus gibbsii is low-lying perennial herb forming clumps of hairy, gray-green stems up to 35 centimeters long. Leaves are up to about 9 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of oval to oblong leaflets. The large inflorescence bears up to 30 yellowish or cream-colored pouched, podlike flowers, each between 1 and 2 centimeters long. Astragalus gibbsii is low-lying perennial herb forming clumps of hairy, gray-green stems up to 35 centimeters long. Leaves are up to about 9 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of oval to oblong leaflets. The large inflorescence bears up to 30 yellowish or cream-colored pouched, podlike flowers, each between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a hanging legume pod 2 to 3 centimeters long. It is fleshy when new and dries to a hairy, leathery texture.