Aztec milkvetch facts for kids
The Aztec milkvetch, known scientifically as Astragalus proximus, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the legume family, which includes plants like peas and beans. You can find this plant growing naturally in the southern parts of Colorado and the northern areas of New Mexico in the United States.
Quick facts for kids Aztec milkvetch |
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About the Aztec Milkvetch
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows a cluster of stems from an underground part called a caudex. A caudex is like a thick, woody stem base that stays underground. The stems can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long.
The plant looks grayish-green because it has tiny, flat hairs. Its leaves are up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Each leaf is a compound leaf, meaning it's made of smaller parts called leaflets. There can be up to 11 leaflets on one leaf. At the bottom of each leaf stalk, there are small leaf-like parts called stipules.
Flowers and Fruit
The Aztec milkvetch blooms from April through July. Its flowers grow in a cluster called a raceme. A raceme is a type of flower cluster where flowers grow along a central stem. Each raceme can have up to 40 flowers. The flowers are usually white, but some might have a hint of lavender. They are small, about 6 or 7 millimeters (less than half an inch) long.
After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a hanging legume pod. It has one section inside that holds small seeds.
How to Tell it Apart
The Aztec milkvetch looks a bit like another plant called Astragalus flexuosus. But you can tell them apart! The Aztec milkvetch has pods that are smooth and don't have hairs. Its pods are also smaller. Plus, it usually has fewer leaflets on each leaf compared to its look-alike.
How it Reproduces
This plant mostly reproduces by seeds. This is called sexual reproduction. Sometimes, a new stem can grow from the underground caudex. When this happens, it might look like a brand new plant, but it's actually part of the original one.
Where the Aztec Milkvetch Lives
You can find the Aztec milkvetch in a special area called the San Juan Basin. This basin is located right where the states of Colorado and New Mexico meet. It's a unique place where the Rocky Mountains meet the Colorado Plateau.
The San Juan Basin is a dry area. It has cool winters and warm summers. The Aztec milkvetch is quite adaptable. It can grow in different types of places, including:
- Forests with ponderosa pine trees.
- Pinyon-juniper woodlands, which have smaller pine and juniper trees.
- Shrubsteppe areas, which are dry grasslands with scattered shrubs.
- Other shrublands.
Not a lot is known about this plant, but scientists are always learning more!
