Pink Milkvetch (10)
The Astragalus genus is very large and individual species are identified by their seed pod rather than their flower or leaves. Common names include Milkvetch and Locoweed. Flowers are in clusters and have five petals, a banner, wings and keel. The lower petal, the keel, of the Milkvetch is rounded while the Locoweed is pointed. All of them have leaves divided into leaflets. These are a few of the many that have pinkish flowers. See Blue/Purple Milkvetch and White Milkvetch for more. The identification is not 100% certain.
Crescent Milkvetch
Astragalus amphioxys
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Picture taken on:
May 8, 2015
Location:
USPS, Española, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry, sandy, pinyon-juniper woodlands
Grows to about 1 foot high with grayish arching leaflets. Flowers are pink/purple up to 1 ¼" long. Seed pods are about 1" long, slightly hairy and curved, crescent-shaped.
Painted Milkvetch
Astragalus ceramicus var. filifolius
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
June 10, 2008
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry, sandy areas
Growing 4" to 12" with a few threadlike leaves (in background of photo). Flowers are off-white to pinkish/purplish. The seed pods are up to 2" long and ½" across, mottled red and white, on a short stalk.
Painted Milkvetch
Astragalus ceramicus var. ceramicus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
April 27, 2015
Location:
Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry, sandy areas
Grows sprawling over the ground only a few inches high with narrow, folded, hairy, gray-green leaflets. The flowers are pink to purple and about ¼" long. Pods are inflated, mottled red and an inch long.
Cottam's Milkvetch
Astragalus cottamii (A. monumentalis var.cottamii)
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Picture taken on:
May 10, 2010
Location:
Little Wildhorse Canyon, UT
Life Zones:
Foothills to montane
Habitat:
Dry rocky areas, canyons
Only 2" high with very hairy, small leaflets. The flower has a white banner with lilac stripes and purple wings and keel. The calyx is hairy. The seed pod is hairy, curved and plump with usually purplish spots.
Identified from New Mexico Rare Plants.
Greene's Milkvetch
Astragalus flexuosus var. greenei
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Picture taken on:
May 26, 2023
Location:
Hwy 554, El Rito, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Roadsides, dry areas, badlands
Grows
5"-16" with a hairy stem and sparse, narrow grayish, folded leaves. Flowers are pink-lavender
and less than ½" long with white stripes in
banner. Seed pods ½" to 1" long, hairy
and freckled with red, clinging to stem.
Flexile Milkvetch
Astragalus flexuosus var. flexuosus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Limber Vetch, Wiry Milkvetch, Slender
Milkvetch,
Pliant Milkvetch
Picture taken on:
May 11, 2015
Location:
Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Foothills to montane
Habitat:
Dry rocky areas
Grows sprawling to 20" with erect flower stalks and narrow, greenish leaves. Flowers are pinkish-purple, spreading and less than ½" long with white stripes in the banner. Seedpods are mottled green and slender, ½" to 1" long dangling down stem.
Laxmann's Milkvetch
Astragalus laxmannii (A. adsurgens var. robustior)
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Prairie Milkvetch
Picture taken on:
May 10, 2010
Location:
Little Wildhorse Canyon, UT
Life Zones:
Foothills
Habitat:
Dry, sandy, rocky areas
Grows in clumps to 10" with small, hairy, folded, gray leaflets. Tiny pink/lavender flowers with a white throat and pink stripes grow in cylindrical clusters at the top of the stem.
Woolly Milkvetch
Astragalus mollissimus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Purple Locoweed, Woolly Locoweed
Picture taken on:
May 6, 2010
Location:
Black Canyon NP, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to montane
Habitat:
Sandy areas, openings, canyons
Appears silvery with many, small, hairy, grayish leaflets and plump, hairy seed pods. One of the first Milkvetch to bloom in the spring.
Newberry's Milkvetch
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Picture taken on:
March 25, 2015
Location:
Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Foothills
Habitat:
Dry sandy rocky areas
Grows low to the ground with 5 to11 silvery leaflets. Flower is bright pink/purple with a lighter center and is over 1" long. Seed pods are curved and covered in silky, white hairs.
Short's Milkvetch
Astragalus shortianus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Leatherpod Loco, Early Purple Milkvetch
Photo taken on:
June 15, 2009
Location:
White Rock, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry slopes, roadsides
Grows to 6" with leaning stems and silky oval leaflets. Flowers are rose-purple. Seed pods are 1-2" long, fleshy, curved upwards and turn leathery with age.
Blue/Purple Long Clusters | Blue/Purple Round Clusters | Pink Round Clusters