Astragalus didymocarpus
| Astragalus didymocarpus | |
|---|---|
| |
| var. didymocarpus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. didymocarpus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus didymocarpus | |
Astragalus didymocarpus is a species of milkvetch known by the common names Dwarf white milkvetch and Two-seeded milkvetch. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat.
Description
[edit]Astragalus didymocarpus is a slender, hairy annual herb growing erect to about 30 cm (12 in) tall, drooping, or flat on the ground in a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 in) long and are made up of narrow to oblong leaflets. The inflorescence is a cluster of up to 30 purple-tinted white flowers, each under 1 cm (0.39 in) long. The inflorescence is covered in long black and white hairs.
The fruit is a small, spherical legume pod which dries to a stiff papery texture.
Varieties
[edit]There are several varieties of Astragalus didymocarpus:
- A. d. var. didymocarpus - erect herb found in western Nevada and much of California
- A. d. var. dispermus - prostrate form native to the desert regions
- A. d. var. milesianus (Miles' milkvetch) - rare variety found only along the Central Coast of California
- A. d. var. obispoensis - form with ascending stems native to coastal southern California and Baja California
Ecology
[edit]In the Mojave Desert, Astragalus didymocarpus is foraged on by desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and is a significant part of their diet.[2][3]
References
[edit]- ^ Contu, S. (2012). "Astragalus didymocarpus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 208. IUCN. e.T19892382A20012561. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T19892382A20012561.en.
- ^ Boarman, W.I. 2002. Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). In: Boarman, W.I. and K. Beaman, editors. The sensitive plant and animal species of the Western Mojave Desert. U. S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Sacramento, CA.
- ^ Jennings, William Bryan (1993). Foraging ecology of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the western Mojave Desert (Thesis). ProQuest 230668827.[page needed]
External links
[edit]- Jepson Manual Treatment - Astragalus didymocarpus
- USDA Plants Profile: Astragalus didymocarpus
- Photo gallery: Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus
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