Astragalus tricarinatus

Astragalus tricarinatus is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name triplerib milkvetch, or triple-ribbed milkvetch.

Astragalus tricarinatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. tricarinatus
Binomial name
Astragalus tricarinatus

It is endemic to California, where it can be found in the region where the San Bernardino Mountains meet the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. It grows in desert scrub and expanses of rock litter amongst stands of Joshua trees. The plant is known from only one location and there were twenty individuals remaining there in 1998, when it was federally listed as an endangered species.[1]

Description

This is a perennial herb growing in clumps up to about 25 cm (9.8 in) tall. The leaves are up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and made up of several silvery-green hairy leaflets. The inflorescence holds 5 to 15 cream-colored flowers each about 2 cm (0.79 in) in length.

The fruit is a flat legume pod up to about 4 cm (1.6 in) long. The pod is curved and has three distinct ribs.

References
  1. The Nature Conservancy


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