Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures, Photos And Information.

Astragalus, Astragalus cottamii

Astragalus, Astragalus cottamii; Plant Photo Taken May 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail.
Astragalus, Astragalus cottamii; Flowers Photo Taken May 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail.
Astragalus, Astragalus cottamii; Flower Photo Taken May 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail.
Astragalus, Astragalus cottamii; Leaf Photo Taken May 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail.
Astragalus, Astragalus cottamii; Seed Pods Photo Taken May 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail.

Astragalus Astragalus cottamii Fabaceae Family ( Pea ) Astragalus. Also called: Astragalus monumentalis, Locoweed, Loco Weed, Milkvetch, or Milk Vetch. The Astragalus genus is very large and complex. World-wide there are about 1600 species. Hundreds of thes species are in the Western United States. There are over 100 species in Arizona. They are considered very hard to identify. In Arizona, we are often considered to be very lucky just to identify them as an Astragalus. It is the seed pod, not the flower, that is often crucial in the identification process. Poisonous species of Astragalus are known as locoweeds. Others are known as Milkvetch. Astragalus cottamii is a stout, erect perennial. Note: Astragalus cottamii, A. desperatus, A. monumentalis, and A. naturitensis are similar in their habitat, size, flower color, pod size, and scarcity. Height: Up To 8" Tall. Flowers: Pink to purple, and the pods are curved and often purple and speckled, pealike, drooping to 7/8 inch long, in raceme to 3 inches long. They are followed by a red, inflated pod about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inch long. Blooming Time: May - August. Leaves: Hairy gray-green to 6 inches long with 11 - 27 elliptical leaflets each about 1/2 inch long and slightly curved upward.. Seeds: Seedpods 1 - 1 1/2" long, 3/8 - 1/2" in diameter; a cylindrical pod; short-pointed at ends, reddish; maturing in summer, remaining attached, often opening late; many elliptical flattened shiny brown; seeds. Found: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado. 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 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail. Astragalus cottamii is said to be found only in the Four Corners area and it is listed as rare in both New Mexico and Arizona.