Gambel's dwarf milkvetch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gambel's dwarf milkvetch
Scientific classification

The Astragalus gambelianus is a small plant often called Gambel's dwarf milkvetch. It belongs to a group of plants known as milkvetch. This plant is native to California, but you can also find it growing north into Oregon and south into Baja California in Mexico.

It grows in many different places, including chaparral and woodlands. These are areas with tough shrubs and trees. It also thrives in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

What Does Gambel's Dwarf Milkvetch Look Like?

Gambel's dwarf milkvetch is an annual herb. This means it completes its entire life cycle in just one year. It has thin stems that can grow up to 30 centimeters long, but they are usually shorter.

Leaves and Flowers

This plant is smaller than most other milkvetch species. Its leaves are less than 4 centimeters long. Each leaf is made up of several small, oval-shaped leaflets, which are only a few millimeters in size.

The plant's flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. Each cluster can hold up to 15 tiny flowers. These flowers are usually white with a hint of purple and are less than 6 millimeters long. The plant parts around the flowers are covered in tiny black hairs.

Fruit

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small fruit. This fruit is a tiny, round or oval legume pod. It is only a few millimeters long.

See also

In Spanish: Astragalus gambelianus para niños