Astragalus collinus Douglas ex G. Don var. collinus
hillside milk-vetch (hillside milkvetch)
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #25175)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Astragalus collinus var. collinus
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a taproot and branching stem-base; stems several, clumped, spreading to erect, 10-50 cm tall, often branched, leafless on lower part, with fine, soft, curly, unbranched hairs.
Leaves:
Alternate, pinnately compound, 3-9 cm long, short-stalked; leaflets 11 to 21, oblanceolate to oblong, often notched at the tip, 8-20 mm long; stipules lanceolate, 2-5 mm long, not joined.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an axillary raceme of 15 to 40 nodding, pea-like flowers, the racemes compact at first then elongating, 4-12 cm long on stalks that are longer than the leaves; corollas creamy-white to yellowish with greenish tinges, 13-17 mm long, the stubby banner shorter than the wings, which barely exceed the blunt keel; calyces 7-10 mm long, downy with white and black hairs, the tube bulging on one side at the base, the lance-triangular teeth 1-3 mm long.
Fruits:
Pods, lance-oblong, drooping on stalks 5-15 mm long, straight or gently curved, 7-25 mm long, laterally flattened, with short, soft or appressed hairs, somewhat fleshy becoming leathery and net-veined, 1-chambered.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Dry grasslands, sagebrush flats and rocky slopes in the steppe and lower montane zones; locally common in SC BC; S to ID and NE OR.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia