XOxytropis sericea - Silky LocoweedX
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Silky Locoweed -or- Whitepoint Locoweed -or- White Locoweed -or- White Point-Vetch -or- Whitepoint Crazyweed -or- Silky Crazyweed (Oxytropis sericea), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean)
This pretty member of the pea family is one of approximately 26 to as many as 300 species in the genus Oxytropis. It is one of two genera (the other is Astragalus) of plants commonly called locoweed for it's tendancy to be toxic to grazing animals. Most plants are native to Eurasia and North America but several are native to the Arctic. From one federal U.S. database is this: 'Whitepoint locoweed has adapted a stress-tolerant survival strategy characteristic of plants in arctic and alpine habitats. It has a large seedbank that remains viable for many years. Its principal stresses are low temperatures, desiccating effects of strong winds on rocky slopes, intense solar radiation, and mineral nutrient deficiencies. Whitepoint locoweed thrives at medium elevations but grows at elevations up to 11,000 feet in Colorado.'
USES: Per the website Native American Ethnobotany are the following records of uses of this species by Native Americans: Blackfoot Drug - infusion of leaves applied to sores. Infusion of leaves used for ear troubles. Stems used by children to make headdresses. ALSO, members of the pea family fix nitrogen in the soil and are thus very important for soil health.
Additional photos here.
Flower -
Plant location: Found along Colorado 96 headed east towards Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado. May 5, 2010. GPS coordinates N38?15.076 W105?01.019, elevation 5540'. It is found in the following United States: (CO, ID, KS, MT, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WY). Habitats include prairies, mountain meadows, and open mountain slopes.Plant -
Bloom season: May through September.Foliage -
Colorado 96 - Lake Pueblo State Park Colorado - May 5, 2010.
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North of Silverthorn Colorado - July 5, 2011
Pretty lavender form. -
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Colorado 96 - Lake Pueblo State Park Colorado - May 5, 2010.
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Colorado 96 - Lake Pueblo State Park Colorado - May 5, 2010.
Foliage macro showing lanate, woolly surface (long dense hairs, leaf surface obscured) -
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Colorado 96 - Lake Pueblo State Park Colorado - May 5, 2010.
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