Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Astragalus pauperculus Rank Species | Order Fabales Genus Astragalus Higher classification Milkvetch | |
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Astragalus pauperculus is an uncommon species of milkvetch known by the common name depauperate milkvetch. It is endemic to northern California, where it is known from the northern Sacramento Valley and the lowest reaches of the Cascade foothills adjacent. It grows in chaparral and vernally wet grassland habitat. This is a very small annual milkvetch which grows in a delicate mat with stems no longer than 10 centimeters. The few leaves are a few centimeters long and are made up of small widely spaced leaflets. The inflorescence bears 2 to 7 flowers which are purple, sometimes with paler colored edges on their petals. Each flower is generally less than a centimeter long. The fruit is a crescent shaped legume pod between one and two centimeters long.