Astragalus nutans
Astragalus nutans is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Providence Mountains milkvetch.
| Astragalus nutans | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. nutans |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus nutans | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Astragalus chuckwallae | |
Distribution
It is endemic to the Mojave Desert of eastern California, where it was named for the local Providence Mountains in the Mojave National Preserve.
Description
Astragalus nutans is a small annual or perennial herb growing patchlike and low to the ground or erect to a maximum height near 15 centimeters. Its leaves are a few centimeters long and are made up of several narrow oval-shaped leaflets. Stem and leaves are coated thinly in rough hairs.
The inflorescence bears 6 to 10 pinkish purple flowers with pale petal tips. The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 2.5 centimeters long. It dries to a thin papery texture and contains many seeds in its single chamber.
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