4. Astragalus Hypoglóttis L. Purple Milk Vetch Or Cock's-Head

Fig. 2537

Astragalus Hypoglottis L. Mant. 2: 274. 1771.

Pubescent or glabrate, decumbent or ascending, slender, branched at the base, 6'-24' long. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, acute, 2"-3" long; leaflets 17-25, oblong or elliptic, obtusish and generally emarginate at the apex, rounded at the base, 3"-7" long; flowers violet-purple, 6"-10" long, in dense heads; pods membranous, sessile, 2-celled, dehiscent, densely villous with white hairs, ovoid-oblong, deeply furrowed on the back, 4"-5" long.

Kansas to Minnesota, north to Hudson Bay, west to Alaska. Also in northern Europe and Asia. May-Aug.

5. Astragalus Bisulcàtus (Hook.) A. Gray. Two-Grooved Milk Vetch

Fig. 2538

Phaca bisulcata Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 145. 1833.

Astragalus bisulcatus A. Gray, Pac. R. R. Rep. 12: Part 2, 42. pl. 1. 1860.

Rather stout, erect, nearly simple, 1°-3° high. Stipules membranous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 4"-6" long; leaflets 17-27, oval or oblong, obtuse at the apex, narrowed at the base, 8"-12" long; flowers deep purple, 7"-8" long, in elongated narrow racemes; peduncles longer than the leaves; pod 1-celled, linear, stipitate, deflexed, pointed, glabrous at maturity, membranous, with 2 deep furrows on the upper side, 6"-10" long.

Plains and river-valleys, Nebraska and Colorado to Montana and Saskatchewan. June-Aug.

6. Astragalus Pectinàtus (Hook.) Dougl. Narrow-Leaved Milk Vetch

Fig. 2539

Phaca pectinata Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 141. pl. 54. 1830. Astragalus pectinatus Dougl.; Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 142. As synonym. 1830.

Ascending, much branched at the base or also above, 1°-2° high, finely canescent or glabrate. Stipules membranous, ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 4"-6" long; leaflets 11-21, very narrowly linear, acute, ¥-3' long, persistent; peduncles shorter than or exceeding the leaves; flowers yellow, 8"-12" long, in loose spikes or spike-like racemes; standard much longer than the wings and keel; pod nearly terete, 1-celled, sessile, oblong, pointed, coriaceous, glabrous, dehiscent, not furrowed, keeled along the upper suture, 6"-8" long, the exocarp somewhat fleshy.

Plains, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado to Saskatchewan and Alberta. June-Aug.

7. Astragalus Racemósus Pursh. Racemose Milk Vetch

Fig. 2540

A. racemosus Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 740. 1814.

Erect or ascending, finely pubescent, branched at the base; stem somewhat zigzag, 1°-2° high. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, membranous, 2"-3" long; leaflets 17-21, elliptic or linear-oblong, acutish or mucronate, 10"-15" long; peduncles equalling or exceeding the leaves; flowers yellowish-white, 8"-9" long, in loose spike-like racemes; pedicels 1"-2"long; pods linear-oblong, imperfectly 2-celled by the intrusion of the dorsal suture, triangular in section, acute at each end, glabrous, stipitate, broadly sulcate, pendent, about 1' long.

Plains and hills, North Dakota to Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. June-July.