San Diego milkvetch facts for kids

Astragalus oocarpus is a special kind of plant known as a milkvetch. People also call it the San Diego milkvetch or Descanso milkvetch. It's quite rare!

This plant grows only in southern California. You can find it in the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County. It might also grow a bit further north in Riverside County. This milkvetch likes to live on the slopes and in the woodlands of the mountains, especially in areas with chaparral plants.

What it Looks Like

The San Diego milkvetch is a plant that lives for many years. It grows hollow stems that stand straight up, reaching about 1.3 meters (which is about 4 feet) tall.

Its leaves can be up to 17 centimeters (about 7 inches) long. Each leaf is made up of smaller, lance-shaped leaflets that are about 3 centimeters (just over an inch) long. The stems and leaves of this plant are mostly smooth and don't have much hair.

Flowers and Fruit

The plant produces a cluster of up to 75 cream-colored flowers. Each flower is about 1 to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long.

After the flowers bloom, they turn into a fruit called a legume pod. This pod looks like a puffed-up balloon and is about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long. When it dries, it becomes stiff and feels like paper.

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