Astragalus mollissimus
| Astragalus mollissimus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. mollissimus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus Mollissimus | |
Astragalus mollissimus (common name - wooly locoweed) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]:121
Description
Growth pattern
It is hairy a perennial plant growing from 2 to 34 inches (5.1 to 86.4 cm) tall, from a very short stem.[1]:121
Leaves and stems
It has hairy stems and leaves.[1]:121 "Mollissumus" means "most soft", referring to the hairy covering of the leaves and stems.[1]:121 Compound pinnate leaves are from 3⁄4 to 11 inches (1.9 to 27.9 cm) long, with 15–35 elliptical to oval and wooly leaflets.[1]:121
Inflorescence and fruit
It blooms from March to August.[1]:121 The inflorescence are from 3⁄4 to 10 inches (1.9 to 25.4 cm) stalks with 7–20 flowers per stalk.[1]:121 Each pink to purple or bicolored with white flower has a 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm) hairy calyx with 5 pointed teeth, around a 3⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) corolla with upper petal flares at the end.[1]:121 1⁄3 to 1 inch (0.85 to 2.54 cm) seed pods are egg shaped and densely hairy.[1]:121
Habitat and range
It grows from grasslands to Pinyon juniper woodland communities ranging from Wyoming to Arizona.[1]:121
Ecological and human interactions
It derives its common name from its wooly stems and leaves, and because it makes livestock "go loco" or die from an alkaloid it contains called Iocoine.