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Astragalus didymocarpus

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Astragalus didymocarpus
var. didymocarpus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. didymocarpus
Binomial name
Astragalus didymocarpus

Astragalus didymocarpus is a species of milkvetch known by the common names Dwarf white milkvetch and Two-seeded milkvetch. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat.

Description

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Astragalus didymocarpus is a slender, hairy annual herb growing erect to about 30 cm (12 in) tall, drooping, or flat on the ground in a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 in) long and are made up of narrow to oblong leaflets. The inflorescence is a cluster of up to 30 purple-tinted white flowers, each under 1 cm (0.39 in) long. The inflorescence is covered in long black and white hairs.

The fruit is a small, spherical legume pod which dries to a stiff papery texture.

Varieties

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There are several varieties of Astragalus didymocarpus:

  • A. d. var. didymocarpus - erect herb found in western Nevada and much of California
  • A. d. var. dispermus - prostrate form native to the desert regions
  • A. d. var. milesianus (Miles' milkvetch) - rare variety found only along the Central Coast of California
  • A. d. var. obispoensis - form with ascending stems native to coastal southern California and Baja California

Ecology

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In the Mojave Desert, Astragalus didymocarpus is foraged on by desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and is a significant part of their diet.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ Contu, S. (2012). "Astragalus didymocarpus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 208. IUCN. e.T19892382A20012561. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T19892382A20012561.en.
  2. ^ Boarman, W.I. 2002. Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). In: Boarman, W.I. and K. Beaman, editors. The sensitive plant and animal species of the Western Mojave Desert. U. S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Sacramento, CA.
  3. ^ Jennings, William Bryan (1993). Foraging ecology of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the western Mojave Desert (Thesis). ProQuest 230668827.[page needed]
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