XAstragalus amphioxys - Crescent MilkvetchX
Click/Tap a thumbnail image to see its larger image with informational details.
-
Crescent Milkvetch (Astragalus amphioxys), family Fabaceae (Pea)
What a plain old flat out thrill this was sighting was. The plant was our first wildflower find of the 2009 early spring season, and what a beauty. This plant is lovely and delicate looking, but as with many in the plant kingdom, in actual fact it is a tough specimen. These blooms occur in an almost desert environment where the challenges of life are rigorous. But thrive they do anyway. In contrast also to the environment in which they live, a light stroking of the the foliage of this plant will delight. It is velvety smooth to the touch, very pleasing. The genus Astragalus is quite large (about 2000 species) with any number of the species identified by seed pods rather than flowers. There are 4 subspecies of amphioxys, which of these our specimen is, is not clear.
USES:
The only recorded use of the species is from the website Native American Ethnobotany: 'Zuni Drug (Snake Bite Remedy) Fresh or dried root chewed by medicine man before sucking snakebite and poultice applied to wound.'
Per WIKIPEDIA: Astragalus consists of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milk-vetch (most species), locoweed (in western US, some species)[1] and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus). Some pale-flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like. See an example of Crown Vetch here.
Flower -
Plant location: The incredible Arches National Park, near Moab Utah, was the location of this specimen was sighted on March 13, 2009. The plants are native to temperate North America. Recordings of these plants in Utah have established them in elevations from 1969 feet up to 5906. Our specimen was above 5000 feet. Habitats are sandy or gravelly soil in deserts, arid grasslands, and among pinon and juniper. We saw many junipers in berries slightly higer up. The plants are found in only 5 of the United States total - AZ , CO , NV , NM , TX , UT. See the BONAP distribution map, here.Plant -
Bloom period: This species starts blooming quite early, to our distinct pleasure. Their bloom average is March through June. It is an annual herb.Foliage -
Arches National Park - Moab Utah - March 13, 2009
Looking down on plant. -
-
Arches National Park - Moab Utah - March 13, 2009
Plant view showing cluster pattern of inflorescences. -
-
Arches National Park - Moab Utah - March 13, 2009
Flower macro showing beak. -
-
Arches National Park - Moab Utah - March 13, 2009
Foliage macro showing pinnate leaf structure (resembling a feather, as in a compound leaf with leaflets arranged on opposite sides of an elongated axis) - surface densely lanuginous (downy or woolly; with soft downy hairs). -
-
-