Astragalus desperatus (common name - rimrock milkvetch) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association,
Description
Growth pattern It is a low growing perennial plant growing from tall.
Leaves and stems Compound pinnate leaves are from long, with 7–17 elliptical to inversely lanceolate leaflets.
Inflorescence and fruit It blooms from March to August. The inflorescence are from stalk to tall, with multiple flowers on short stems from the stalk. Each ink to purple flower has a calyx tube that is bell-shaped and up to long, and petals to long. Seed pods are up to long, elliptical or curved, and covered with stiff hairs.
Habitat and range It grows only on the Colorado Plateau (endemic) in mixed desert shrub and pinyon-juniper forest communities.
References