Astragalus bicristatus
Globally vulnerable perennial legume endemic to the Yellow Pine Forests of southern California's Transverse Ranges, with up to 20 loose purple-tinted white to light greenish-yellow flowers and crescent-shaped hanging fruit.
Common Names
Twocrested Milkvetch, Crested Milk Vetch, Two-Crested Milkvetch
Summary
crested milkvetch is a perennial herb native to southern California, occupying open rocky areas within pine forests at elevations of 1700–2750 m. It features decumbent to ascending stems 2–4 dm long, leaves 3–14 cm long with 11–21 leaflets, and a loose raceme of 5–20 white flowers; the fruit is a pendulous 2–4 cm pod. A distinctive feature is a massive pendulous, long-stipitate pod that curves downward from the calyx as it dries.
It is toxic to eat any part of the plant and is listed in the California Rare Plant Inventory (rank 4.3), reflecting its limited distribution in the state. Natural habitat includes open rocky areas in pine forests at elevations 1700–2750 m, indicating a preference for rocky environments and informing conservation considerations.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
8-19.5 inches
Spread
8-20 inches
Soil Type
Rocky soil
Bloom Color
White, Yellow, Green
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Gray
Leaf Lifecycle
Other
Growth Rate
Not specified
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- A.Gray
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 19: 75 (1883)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Fabales
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Subfamily
- Papilionoideae
- Genus
- Astragalus
Synonyms
Homalobus bicristatus Astragalus bicristatus var. tetrapteroides