Freckled Milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus var. palans
Family: Fabaceae (A Utah Flora – Leguminosae) – Pea Family
Perennial herbs from a taproot; 6.3” to 2' (1.6 to 6 dm) tall
Leaves: alternate; compound; leaves 1” to 6” (2.4 to 15 cm) long; 9 to 23 leaflets; leaflet 0.08” to 0.9” (2 to 23 mm) long, 0.04” to 0.5” (1 to 13 mm) wide
Flowers: racemes with 5 to 30 flowers; 5 pink-purple petals (a banner, 2 wings and 2 keels), keel is shorter than the wings, flowers 0.34” to 0.88” (8.4 to 22 mm) long; 5 sepals; 5-10 stamens; 1 pistil; bisexual
Pollinators: other Astragalus species are pollinated by insects (specifically bees, moths and butterflies)
Fruits: legume
Blooms in Arches National Park: March, April, May
Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities
Location seen: park road near Courthouse Wash
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, “lentiginosus”, means “freckled or spotted” and the variety name, “palans” comes from “pallens” which means “pale”.
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.
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