Astragalus leucolobus

Common Names

Big Bear Valley Woollypod, Bear Valley Milkvetch, Whitepod Milkvetch, Bear Valley Wooly-Podin

Summary

Bear Valley milkvetch is a small perennial subshrub native to southern California, occurring in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains as a low clump of spreading stems with woolly leaves. Stems are under 7 cm long and leaves consist of many oval, pointed leaflets; an inflorescence of 5–13 pinkish-purple flowers rises above the clump, each flower 1–2 cm long, and the fruit is a densely woolly white legume pod with a bent tip. It grows in forest and shrubland habitats at elevations of 1,400–2,900 m and is known by common names including Bear Valley milkvetch and Big Bear Valley Woollypod.

Conservation status is Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1); CNPS Rare Plant Inventory 1B.2; Global Rank G2; State Rank S2, reflecting its restricted range in southern California mountains. Threats include residential and tourism development, energy production and mining, logging, and recreational disturbance. Toxicity is noted as do not eat any part. Cultivation requirements are not described in the provided characteristics.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2.76 inches maximum

Soil Type

Alluvial soils, pebble plain soils

Bloom Color

Pink-purple

Growth Rate

Decreasing