Astragalus inversus is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Susanville milkvetch.

Astragalus inversus

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. inversus
Binomial name
Astragalus inversus

It is endemic to the northeastern corner of California, between 900–1,980 metres (2,950–6,500 ft) in elevation. It grows in southern Cascade Range Yellow pine forests and dry Great Basin Sagebrush scrub habitats.

Description

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Astragalus inversus is a perennial herb with slender, wiry, mostly leafless stems growing 20 to 50 centimeters long. They grow upright or form a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long and are made up of a few small, widely spaced narrow leaflets.[2]

The whole size of the plant ranges from 0.7 to 1.6 ft tall. Its flower color comes in pink, yellow, and red. It hosts up to 21 butterflies and moths, including, the Painted Lady, the Silver-Spotted Skipper, and others native to northeast California.[3]

The inflorescence is a loose array of 5 to 12 pale to reddish pink flowers, sometimes tinted with yellow. Each flower is about a centimeter long.

The fruit is a hanging legume pod 2 to 3.5 centimeters long, narrow and flat in shape and drying to a hairy, papery texture.

Its bloom period is May to September. It has major toxicity.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Astragalus inversus". NatureServe Explorer Astragalus inversus. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ "SEINet Portal Network - Astragalus inversus".
  3. ^ "Susanville Milkvetch, Astragalus inversus". calscape.org. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  4. ^ "Astragalus inversus Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
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