White Locoweed

(Oxytropis sericea Nutt.)

Fabaceae (Legume Family)

Mature, flowering plant in southwestern Kansas ▲

flowers ▲▼

▲ Flower detail of Oxytropis species (left) and Astragalus species (right); Oxytropis has small appendage/lip on lower flower petal lip, Astragalus species do not have this appendage.

Fruit pods beginning to form▲

▲▼ Leaves-- note the long, silky hairs on the Astragalus leaf below. 

▲ Rangeland with a population of white locoweed.

White Locoweed:  (pp. 302-303 in Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

White locoweed is a simple perennial native to western midwest prairies, rangeland. It is toxic to livestock, particularly horses, due to alkaloid content. 

It can be distinguished from Astragalus locoweeds by the lack of elongated internodes on upright, ascending or trailing above ground stems that Astragalus species often have (Oxytropis species have more of a crown where both leaves and flower stems emerge), and by the little extension or hook from the center of the base of the lower petal "lip" on Oxytropis species not seen on Astragalus species. The flowers are very showy, and are produced in mid to late spring.

White Locoweed may appear similar to Lotus Milkvetch or Silky Sophora, but White Locoweed has more showy flowers, on upright flower stems, compared to lotus milkvetch.  Silky sophora forms colonies by creeping roots, and has short, upright, slightly branched stems, while white locoweed has compressed, crown-like stems, and does not spread by creeping roots.