Tidestrom's milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tidestrøm's milkvetch |
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Astragalus tidestromii, also called Tidestrøm's milkvetch, is a type of plant. It belongs to a group of plants known as milkvetch.
This plant grows naturally in the Mojave Desert. You can find it in parts of California and Nevada. It likes to grow in rocky soil that contains limestone gravel. The plant got its name from a botanist named Ivar Frederick Tidestrøm.
About Tidestrøm's Milkvetch
Tidestrøm's milkvetch is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows in a bunch or clump, often without any visible stems. If it has stems, they are usually very short.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Each leaf is made up of many smaller, oval or round-shaped pieces called leaflets. The whole plant is covered in soft, shaggy hairs.
The flowers grow in an open group, which is called an inflorescence. These flowers are usually light to deep purple. They often have darker purple tips, making them quite pretty.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a flat, bean-like pod, also known as a legume pod. It has a very interesting curved shape. Sometimes, it even curves so much that it forms a complete circle!
The pod feels leathery and is also covered in hairs. It can grow up to 5.5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. Inside these pods are the plant's seeds.
