Pink Milkvetch (10)

The Astragalus genus is very large and individual species are identified by their seed pod rather than their flower or leaves. Common names include Milkvetch and Locoweed. Flowers are in clusters and have five petals, a banner, wings and keel. The lower petal, the keel, of the Milkvetch is rounded while the Locoweed is pointed. All of them have leaves divided into leaflets. These are a few of the many that have pinkish flowers. See Blue/Purple Milkvetch and White Milkvetch for more. The identification is not 100% certain.

	Crescent Milkvetch Astragalus amphioxys Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Picture taken on: May 8, 2015 Location: USPS, Española, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry, sandy, pinyon-juniper woodlands Grows to about 1 foot high with grayish arching leaflets. Flowers are pink/purple up to 1 ¼" long. Seed pods are about 1" long, slightly hairy and curved, crescent-shaped.
	Painted Milkvetch Astragalus ceramicus var. filifolius Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Photo taken on: June 10, 2008 Location: Almont, CO Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry, sandy areas Growing 4" to 12" with a few threadlike leaves (in background of photo). Flowers are off-white to pinkish/purplish. The seed pods are up to 2" long and ½" across, mottled red and white, on a short stalk.
	Painted Milkvetch Astragalus ceramicus var. ceramicus Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Photo taken on: April 27, 2015 Location: Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry, sandy areas Grows sprawling over the ground only a few inches high with narrow, folded, hairy, gray-green leaflets. The flowers are pink to purple and about ¼" long. Pods are inflated, mottled red and an inch long.
	Cottam's Milkvetch Astragalus cottamii (A. monumentalis var.cottamii) Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Picture taken on: May 10, 2010 Location: Little Wildhorse Canyon, UT Life Zones: Foothills to montane Habitat: Dry rocky areas, canyons Only 2" high with very hairy, small leaflets. The flower has a white banner with lilac stripes and purple wings and keel. The calyx is hairy. The seed pod is hairy, curved and plump with usually purplish spots. Identified from New Mexico Rare Plants.
	Greene's Milkvetch Astragalus flexuosus var. greenei Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Picture taken on: May 26, 2023 Location: Hwy 554, El Rito, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Roadsides, dry areas, badlands Grows 5"-16" with a hairy stem and sparse, narrow grayish, folded leaves. Flowers are pink-lavender and less than ½" long with white stripes in banner. Seed pods ½" to 1" long, hairy and freckled with red, clinging to stem.
	Flexile Milkvetch Astragalus flexuosus var. flexuosus Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Limber Vetch, Wiry Milkvetch, Slender Milkvetch, Pliant Milkvetch Picture taken on: May 11, 2015 Location: Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Foothills to montane Habitat: Dry rocky areas Grows sprawling to 20" with erect flower stalks and narrow, greenish leaves. Flowers are pinkish-purple, spreading and less than ½" long with white stripes in the banner. Seedpods are mottled green and slender, ½" to 1" long dangling down stem.
	Laxmann's Milkvetch Astragalus laxmannii (A. adsurgens var. robustior) Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Prairie Milkvetch Picture taken on: May 10, 2010 Location: Little Wildhorse Canyon, UT Life Zones: Foothills Habitat: Dry, sandy, rocky areas Grows in clumps to 10" with small, hairy, folded, gray leaflets. Tiny pink/lavender flowers with a white throat and pink stripes grow in cylindrical clusters at the top of the stem.
	Woolly Milkvetch Astragalus mollissimus Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Purple Locoweed, Woolly Locoweed Picture taken on: May 6, 2010 Location: Black Canyon NP, CO Life Zones: Foothills to montane Habitat: Sandy areas, openings, canyons Appears silvery with many, small, hairy, grayish leaflets and plump, hairy seed pods. One of the first Milkvetch to bloom in the spring.
	Newberry's Milkvetch Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Picture taken on: March 25, 2015 Location: Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Foothills Habitat: Dry sandy rocky areas Grows low to the ground with 5 to11 silvery leaflets. Flower is bright pink/purple with a lighter center and is over 1" long. Seed pods are curved and covered in silky, white hairs.
	Short's Milkvetch Astragalus shortianus Family: Pea (Fabaceae) AKA: Leatherpod Loco, Early Purple Milkvetch Photo taken on: June 15, 2009 Location: White Rock, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry slopes, roadsides Grows to 6" with leaning stems and silky oval leaflets. Flowers are rose-purple. Seed pods are 1-2" long, fleshy, curved upwards and turn leathery with age.

Blue/Purple Long Clusters | Blue/Purple Round Clusters | Pink Round Clusters