Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Astragalus nutans Rank Species | Order Fabales Genus Astragalus Higher classification Milkvetch | |
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Astragalus nutans is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Providence Mountains milkvetch.
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Distribution
It is endemic to the Mojave Desert of eastern California, where it was named for the local Providence Mountains in the Mojave National Preserve.
Description
Astragalus nutans is a small annual or perennial herb growing patchlike and low to the ground or erect to a maximum height near 15 centimeters. Its leaves are a few centimeters long and are made up of several narrow oval-shaped leaflets. Stem and leaves are coated thinly in rough hairs.
The inflorescence bears 6 to 10 pinkish purple flowers with pale petal tips. The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 2.5 centimeters long. It dries to a thin papery texture and contains many seeds in its single chamber.