Narrowleaf Milkvetch, Narrowleaf  Poisonvetch

[Astragalus pectinatus (Douglas ex Hook.) Douglas ex G. Don.]

Fabaceae (Legume Family)

 

mature, flowering plants, showing linear leaflets and creamy white flowers ▼▲

top-views of flowering ▲, and fruiting plants ▼

flowers ▼▲

flower and leaf detail ▲

fruit ▲

Narrowleaf Milkvetch is a midwest native plant found on alkaline, chalky soils, and in  high-selenium content soils.  More may be found in areas where there has been some soil disturbance or overgrazing.

The entire plant (not just flowers) has a unique, characteristic, strong musky odor that is evident when they are nearby.  The plant tends to have an ascending to spreading branching pattern, with several branches arising from a simple perennial tap root, and pinnately-compound leaves with linear leaflets.  Stems usually are green, but may be reddish green.  They have open, broad racemes of showy creamy-white flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by elongated-rounded, fleshy pods

Consumption of narrowleaf poisonvetch can cause selenium toxicity in grazing animals.  This plant usually will not be grazed if more desirable vegetation is available.   

o   Narrowleaf Poisonvetch:  (mentioned on p. 301 in Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

§  Simple perennial with pinnately compound leaves with very long, slender dark-green leaflets

§  Stems are upright spreading—about 12-24 inches tall and wide

§  Flowers are showy, creamy-white, pea-like in mid to late spring

§  Fruit is a short, reddish, fat pod

§  Are selenium accumulators found in high selenium soils of western Midwest, plus may have other alkaloids

§  Found on prairies, rangeland, roadsides