Yellow milkvetch facts for kids

Astragalus flavus, also known as the yellow milkvetch, is a special type of plant. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. This plant belongs to the legume family, called Fabaceae. You can find it growing in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region in the southwestern United States.

About Yellow Milkvetch

The yellow milkvetch is a unique plant that adds a splash of yellow to its habitat. It is known for its interesting growth habits and where it chooses to live.

What It Looks Like

The yellow milkvetch usually grows upright or curves slightly. It can be anywhere from 5 to 30 centimeters (2 to 12 inches) tall. The whole plant is covered in tiny hairs that look like stars.

Stems and Leaves

The leaves of the yellow milkvetch are quite interesting. They are called compound pinnate leaves. This means each leaf is made up of several smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets can be thin and long, or shaped like an egg. They range from about 0.6 to 15 centimeters (1/4 to 6 inches) long.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of the yellow milkvetch grow on a stalk. Each stalk can have anywhere from 6 to 30 flowers. Each flower has a fuzzy outer part called a calyx tube. The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is yellow and shaped like a bell. These flowers are about 0.6 to 1.3 centimeters (1/4 to 1/2 inch) long. The name "Flavus" actually means "yellow" in Latin, which perfectly describes its flowers! This plant blooms in late spring, usually from May to June.

Where It Grows

The yellow milkvetch is a tough plant that can grow in challenging places. It prefers to live in saline soil, which is soil that has a lot of salt. Plants that can grow in salty soil are called halophytes. You can find this plant in areas known as salt desert shrub lands. It grows at elevations between about 1,158 to 1,646 meters (3,800 to 5,400 feet) high.