Painted Milkvetch

Astragalus ceramicus var. ceramicus

Family: Fabaceae (A Utah Flora – Leguminosae) – Pea Family

Perennial herbs from a taproot; 1.2” to 1.3' (3 to 40 cm) tall

Leaves: alternate; compound; 1 to 13 leaflets; 0.08” to 0.68” (2 to 17 cm) long

Flowers: 5 purple, pink or rarely white petals (a banner, 2 wings and 2 keels); keel shorter than the wings; 5 toothed sepals; 5-10 stamens, 1 pistil; bisexual; flowers 0.25” to 0.38” (6.3 to 9.5 mm) long

Pollinators: other Astragalus species are pollinated by bees, moths and butterflies

Fruits: legume

Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May

Habitat in Arches National Park: sandy soils in desert shrub, grassland, riparian and pinyon-juniper communities

Location seen: park road and Delicate Arch road, outside Arches National Park in Negro Bill Canyon

Other: The genus name, “Astragalus”, is the Greek name for “legume”, and may be derived from “astragalos” which means “ankle bone” referring to the shape of the leaves or the pods. The species name, “ceramicus”, means “pottery-like” and refers to the seedpod's appearance.

This family is ranked second to grasses in importance to people because species can fix nitrogen. However, some species, e.g., locoweeds and milkvetches, are poisonous due to selenium abstracted from the soil.