11. Astragalus Blàkei Eggleston. Blakes Milk Vetch

Fig. 2544

A. Robbinsii occidentalis S. Wats. Bot. King's Exp. 70. 1871.

A. Robbinsii Jesupi Eggleston & Sheldon, Bull. Geol. Nat. Hist. Surv. Minn. 9: 155. 1894.

A. Blakei Eggleston, Bot. Gaz. 20: 271. 1895.

A. Jesupi Britton, Man. 1048. 1901.

Similar to the two preceding species, but stem rather stouter, erect or nearly so, up to 20' high, sparingly pubescent. Leaflets 9-15, oblong to elliptic, obtuse or emarginate, glabrous above, pubescent beneath; corolla whitish or bluish purple, 5"-6" long; pod 1' long or less, pubescent, swollen, somewhat triangular in section.

Rocky banks and cliffs. Maine and Vermont. May-June. Also in the Rocky Mountains.

12. Astragalus Distórtus T. & G. Bent Milk Vetch

Fig. 2545

Astragalus distortus T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 333. 1838.

Sparingly pubescent or glabrate, diffuse or ascending, much branched from the base, stems 8'-15' long. Leaflets 11-25, obovate or oval, emarginate or rounded at the apex, narrowed at the base, 2"-5" long; flowers purple, 4"-6" long, in loose short spikes; pod sessile in the calyx, I-celled, slightly inflated, linear-oblong, coriaceous, strongly curved, glabrous, grooved on the under side, 1'-1 1/2' long.

In dry soil, Illinois to Iowa, south to West Virginia, Mississippi and Texas. March-July.

13. Astragalus Lotiflórus Hook. Low Milk Vetch

Fig. 2546

Astragalus lotifiorus Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 152. 1833.

Phaca lotiflora T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 349. 1838.

Astragalus elatiocarpus Sheld. Bull. Geol. Nat. Hist. Surv.

Minn. 9: 20. 1894. Phaca elatiocarpa Rydb. Bull. Torr. Club 32: 665. 1906. A. nebraskensis Bates, Torreya 5: 216. 1906.

Pubescent, with long white hairs, branched from the base, nearly acaulescent, or with stems 1'-3' long. Stipules ovate, acuminate, 1 1/2"-2" long; leaflets 7-15, oval or oblong, obtuse and sometimes mucronulate at the ape.-:, narrowed at the base, 5"-8" long; flowers few, yellow, 4"-6" long, in rather dense short spikes; calyx campanulate, its teeth subulate; peduncles shorter than or equalling the leaves, sometimes very short; pod I-celled, sessile, villous-pubescent, ovoid-oblong, coriaceous, somewhat inflated, pointed, dehiscent, keeled along the straight dorsal suture.

Prairies and plains. Manitoba to South Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, British Columbia and Colorado. June-July.