Astragalus nutans is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Providence Mountains milkvetch.

Astragalus nutans

Vulnerable  (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. nutans
Binomial name
Astragalus nutans
Synonyms

Astragalus chuckwallae

Distribution

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It is endemic to the Mojave Desert of eastern California, where it was named for the local Providence Mountains in the Mojave National Preserve.

Description

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Astragalus nutans is a small annual or perennial herb growing patchlike and low to the ground or erect to a maximum height near 15 centimeters. Its leaves are a few centimeters long and are made up of several narrow oval-shaped leaflets. Stem and leaves are coated thinly in rough hairs.

The inflorescence bears 6 to 10 pinkish purple flowers with pale petal tips. The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 2.5 centimeters long. It dries to a thin papery texture and contains many seeds in its single chamber.

References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Astragalus nutans". NatureServe Explorer Astragalus nutans. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
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