Marsh milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astragalus pycnostachyus |
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The Astragalus pycnostachyus, also known as the marsh milkvetch, is a special type of plant. It's a milkvetch that only grows along the coast of California. You can find it in wet, salty places like marshes.
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What is the Marsh Milkvetch?
The marsh milkvetch is a plant that lives for many years. It grows in a thick, upright bunch. Its stems are hollow and feel a bit woolly. They can grow to be about 40 to 90 centimeters (about 1.5 to 3 feet) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Each leaf is made up of many small, oval-shaped leaflets. The plant's flowers grow in a cluster. They are usually whitish to greenish and are about one centimeter (less than half an inch) long.
Fruit of the Plant
After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a puffy, papery pod. It has a small, hooked tip, almost like a tiny beak. These pods are a type of legume, similar to pea pods.
Different Kinds of Marsh Milkvetch
There are two main types, or varieties, of the marsh milkvetch.
Ventura Marsh Milkvetch
- Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus is also called the Ventura marsh milkvetch. This variety is very rare. It now only grows in one small area in Oxnard, which is in Ventura County. This single group of plants is now protected by a fence. The government considers this plant an endangered species. This means it is in danger of disappearing forever.
Why is it Endangered?
Many things threaten the Ventura marsh milkvetch.
- Most of its natural home has been lost.
- It can get sick from plant diseases.
- Other plants, like the non-native ice plant, grow too close and take its space.
- Snails, like the Otala lactea (milk snail), sometimes eat the plant.
Common Marsh Milkvetch
- Astragalus pycnostachyus var. pycnostachyus is the other variety. This one is mostly found in the San Francisco Bay Area.
