Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Rank Species | Order Fabales Genus Astragalus | |
Astragalus desperatus (common name - rimrock milkweed) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.
Contents
Growth pattern
It is a low growing perennial plant growing from 1⁄2 to 4 1⁄2 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) tall.
Leaves and stems
Compound pinnate leaves are from 1⁄2 to 4 1⁄2 inches (1.3 to 11.4 cm) long, with 7–17 elliptical to inversely lanceolate leaflets.
Inflorescence and fruit
It blooms from March to August. The inflorescence are from stalk to 5 inches (13 cm) tall, with multiple flowers on short stems from the stalk. Each ink to purple flower has a calyx tube that is bell-shaped and up to 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) long, and petals to 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) long. Seed pods are up to 3⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) long, elliptical or curved, and covered with stiff hairs.
Habitat and range
It grows only on the Colorado Plateau (endemic) in mixed desert shrub and pinyon juniper forest communities.