Smallflower milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astragalus nuttallianus |
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Astragalus nuttallianus is a type of plant known as a milkvetch. People often call it the smallflower milkvetch or turkeypeas. This plant grows naturally in the southwestern and south-central parts of the United States and in northern Mexico. You can find it in many different places, especially in dry areas.
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What Does It Look Like?
This plant is an annual herb, which means it lives for only one growing season. Its appearance can change a lot, especially between its different types.
Stems and Leaves
The plant has thin, hairy stems that can grow anywhere from 4 to 45 centimeters long. Its leaves can be up to 6.5 centimeters long. Each leaf is made up of several smaller, oval-shaped leaflets. These leaflets can have pointed or rounded tips.
Flowers and Fruit
The plant's flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. Each cluster usually has 1 to 4 flowers. These flowers are quite small, less than a centimeter long. They can be white, purple, or a mix of two colors. After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit that looks like a pod. This pod is a type of legume and is usually 12 to 26 millimeters long.
Where Does It Grow?
Astragalus nuttallianus is found across a wide area. It grows in many different habitats, often preferring places that are dry.
Different Types of Astragalus nuttallianus
There are several different types, or varieties, of this plant. Each variety might look a little different or grow in specific areas. For example:
- A. n. var. austrinus is found from California to Oklahoma and into northwestern Mexico.
- A. n. var. cedrosensis grows in the Sonoran Desert.
- A. n. var. nuttallianus is found in the central US, from Kansas to Louisiana.
- Other varieties like imperfectus, macilentus, micranthiformis, trichocarpus, and zapatanus are found in different parts of the southwestern United States, including New Mexico and Texas.
