Austin's milkvetch facts for kids

Austin's milkvetch (scientific name: Astragalus austiniae) is a type of plant called a milkvetch. It grows naturally in the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada range, which stretches across California and Nevada. You can find it near Lake Tahoe. This plant loves the very cold, high-altitude weather found in alpine climates. It can even grow in windy, open areas.

About Austin's Milkvetch

Austin's milkvetch is a small plant that lives for many years. It forms tiny clumps among rocks and usually grows no taller than about 11 centimeters (about 4 inches). Its stems and leaves are covered in soft, silvery hairs, making them look a bit like cotton.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this plant can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. Each leaf is made up of several small, oval-shaped leaflets that have a slight ridge, or "keel," down the middle.

The plant's flowers grow in a fluffy, head-shaped bunch. There are usually 4 to 14 pea-like flowers in each cluster. They are white with hints of pink or purple, and each flower is about one centimeter long.

Fruit of the Plant

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit called a legume pod. This pod is also woolly and is less than a centimeter long. It holds the plant's seeds.

See also

In Spanish: Astragalus austiniae para niños