Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Other common names
Torrey's milk-vetch
matted poison milkvetch
mattedmilkvetch
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Astragalus spp.
Height
6 to 8 inches
Riparian
No
A low, stemless perennial with silvery green compound leaves and purplish-pink pea-shaped flowers.
Banner wings (upper petals) deeply notched at the apex. Plant hairs are dolabriform (pick-shaped and attached near their middle). Seed pods are 2-celled and distinguish this species from other Astragalus spp.
Habitat
Rocky slopes, mesas, pinyon-juniper forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Pea-like flowers, petals pink to purplish, often purple-tipped or pink-tipped, fading to blue. Banner petals are white in the center.
Flower color
Pink to purplish
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
July
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaflets 3 to 7, about 1/4 inch long, obovate and narrow to or egg-shaped, broadest toward their tip.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Pods are 2-celled, narrowly oblong, usually curved, 1/2 to 3/4 inches long, to 1/4 inch wide, ascending, without stems and laterally compressed.
Fruit type
Pod