Inyo milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inyo milkvetch |
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Astragalus inyoensis is a type of plant called a milkvetch. Its common name is Inyo milkvetch. This plant grows naturally in the Great Basin Desert. You can find it in the mountains and flat areas of western Nevada. It also lives in the White and Inyo Mountains in eastern California, USA.
About the Inyo Milkvetch
The Inyo milkvetch is a low-growing plant. It spreads out like a mat on the ground. This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and does not have a woody stem.
What Does it Look Like?
The stems of the Inyo milkvetch are thin and a bit crooked. They are gray-green in color. These stems can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) long.
The leaves are a few centimeters long. Each leaf is made up of several smaller parts. These small parts are called leaflets. They are oval-shaped and look a bit like tiny scoops. Each leaflet is only a few millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruits
The plant produces groups of flowers. This group is called an inflorescence. Each group can have up to 15 flowers. The flowers are a pretty pinkish-purple color. They are about one centimeter long.
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes fruit. The fruit is a hanging pod. It is called a legume pod. This pod is a little over one centimeter long. It has a narrow, curved shape. The pod feels a bit like leather.
