Astragalus andersonii
| Astragalus andersonii | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. andersonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus andersonii | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
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. It was named after Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.[3]
Description
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.[4]
Taxonomy
Astragalus andersonii was scientifically described and named by Asa Gray in 1865. It is classified in the genus Astragalus within the Fabaceae family. It has two homotypic synonyms, Tragacantha andersonii from an 1891 reclassification by Otto Kuntze and Hamosa andersonii from 1927, published by Per Axel Rydberg.[2]
Range
Astragalus andersonii is native to eastern California and western Nevada. In California it is confined to Mono and Inyo counties in the south and Sierra, Plumas, and Lassen counties in the north. In Nevada it grows in five counties in the northwest, Washoe, Storey, Carson City, Douglas, and Lyon.[5]
References
- ↑ NatureServe (2 July 2026). "Astragalus andersonii". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- 1 2 POWO (2026). "Astragalus andersonii A.Gray". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Gray, Asa (1864–1865). "Characters of Some New Plants of California and Nevada . . ". Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 6: 524. Retrieved Mar 6, 2020.
- ↑ "Astragalus andersonii".
- ↑ NRCS (2026). "Astragalus andersonii". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 23 July 2026.