Astragalus
Astragalus praelongus Fabaceae Family ( Pea ) Astragalus. Also called Locoweed, Rattleweed, Stinking Milkvetch, or Milk Vetch.
The Astragalus genus is very large and complex. World-wide there are about 1600 species. There are over three dozen in Arizona. Very hard to identify.
Astragalus praelongus is a stout, erect perennial.
Height: Up To 48" Tall. Most are about 12 inches to 24 inches.
Flowers: Cream Colored, pealike, drooping to 7/8 inch long, in raceme to 3 inches long. They are followed by a white, inflated pod about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inch long..
Blooming Time: May - august.
Leaves: Gray-green to 6 inches long with 11 - 27 elliptical leaflets each about 3/4 inch long and slightly curved upward..
Seeds: Seedpods 1 1/2 - 3" long, 3/8 - 1/2" in diameter; a cylindrical pod; short-pointed at ends, dark brown or black, hard; maturing in summer, remaining attached, often opening late; many elliptical flattened shiny brown; seeds.
Found: Statewide. Very common low water use landscaping plant in the Phoenix and Tucson areas.
Elevation: 2,800 Feet - 6500 Feet.
Habitat: Found in selenium-rich clays, silts, and sandy soil of plains and desert.
Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken May 16, 2005 near Hillside.
