Astragalus oocarpus
Rare perennial legume endemic to southern California’s Peninsular Ranges, with up to 75 cream-colored flowers on erect stems and inflated legume pods, found in chaparral slopes and woodlands.
Common Names
Descanso Milk-Vetch, San Diego Milkvetch, Egg-Pod Milkvetch, Milkvetch
Summary
Descanso milk-vetch is a native perennial herb in the Fabaceae, endemic to southern California and restricted to the San Diego County Peninsular Ranges. It has a stout, leafy habit with stems widely ascending to erect, reaching about 0.6–1.3 m tall; leaves up to 17 cm long with veiny lance-shaped leaflets up to 3 cm. The inflorescence carries 20–75 cream-colored flowers 1–2 cm long, and the erect, inflated legume pod fruits 1.5–2.5 cm long and 10–16 mm wide. Flowering occurs May–Aug, and stems and leaves are mostly hairless.
Conservation status is imperiled globally with California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, and the species occurs in chaparral slopes and mountain woodlands at elevations of 400–1700 m. It is not edible (toxicity: Do not eat any part) and supports wildlife by hosting caterpillars and butterflies.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3-4.5 feet
Soil Type
Sandy soil
Bloom Color
Cream
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- A.Gray
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 213 (1864)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Fabales
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Subfamily
- Papilionoideae
- Genus
- Astragalus
Synonyms
Tragacantha oocarpa Phaca oocarpa Astragalus franciscanus var. virgatus Astragalus franciscanus Phaca franciscana Phaca densifolia Astragalus vestitus var. franciscanus