Locoweed (4)

The Pea (Fabaceae) family is very large and individual species are often identified by their seed pod rather than their flower. Common names include Milkvetch and Locoweed. The lower petal, the "keel", of the Milkvetch is rounded while the Locoweed is pointed. These are a few of the many.

Oxytropis lambertii

Lambert's Locoweed
Oxytropis lambertii var. lambertii

Family: Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA: Colorado Locoweed, Purple Locoweed
Photo taken on: July 3, 2011
Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Dry meadows, slopes

Grows erect to 16" with silky, silvery basal leaves and bright rose-purple flowers. It is very poisonous to livestock.
Oxytropis lambertii

Lambert's Locoweed
Oxytropis lambertii var. bigelovii

Family: Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA: Colorado Locoweed, Purple Locoweed
Photo taken on: May 1, 2015
Location: SR 84, MM 203, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry meadows, slopes

Very similar to above but blooms earlier with more compact clusters of flowers just above the leaves.
Oxytropis deflexa

Pendant-pod Locoweed
Oxytropis deflexa

Family: Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA: Nodding Locoweed, Reflexed Locoweed
Photo taken on: July 2, 2010
Location: Cottonwood Pass Road, CO
Life Zones: Foothills to subalpine
Habitat: Moist meadows

Grows to 16" with hairy leaves with 21+ leaflets. Purple flowers are clustered at the top of sprawling, reddish stems and initially point up. Seed pods are grooved and hang down the stem.
Oxytropis deflexa-lambertii

Locoweed Hybrid
Oxytropis deflexa-lambertii

Family: Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 21, 2010
Location: Union Canyon, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Meadows, slopes

Less than 12" high with hairy, oval, light green leaflets. A possible hybrid of O. deflexa and O. lambertii above. It looks exactly like "oxytropis def-lam" on the RMBL website growing in the same area of the county.

Blue/Purple Long Clusters