Astragalus inversus

Astragalus inversus
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Astragalus
Species:	A. inversus
Binomial name
Astragalus inversus M.E.Jones

Astragalus inversus is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Susanville milkvetch.

It is endemic to the northeastern corner of California, between 900–1,980 metres (2,950–6,500 ft) in elevation. It grows in southern Cascade Range Yellow pine forests and dry Great Basin Sagebrush scrub habitats.

Description

Astragalus inversus is a perennial herb with slender, wiry, mostly leafless stems growing 20 to 50 centimeters long. They grow upright or form a spreading clump. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long and are made up of a few small, widely spaced narrow leaflets.

The whole size of the plant ranges from 0.7 to 1.6 ft tall. Its flower color comes in pink, yellow, and red. It hosts up to 21 butterflies and moths, including, the Painted Lady, the Silver-Spotted Skipper, and others native to northeast California.

The inflorescence is a loose array of 5 to 12 pale to reddish pink flowers, sometimes tinted with yellow. Each flower is about a centimeter long.

The fruit is a hanging legume pod 2 to 3.5 centimeters long, narrow and flat in shape and drying to a hairy, papery texture.

Its bloom period is May to September. It has major toxicity.

See also

• List of plants on the Modoc National Forest

External links

• CalFlora database: Astragalus inversus (Susanville milk vetch)
• Jepson Manual Treatment: Astragalus inversus
• USDA Plants Profile: Astragalus inversus (Susanville milkvetch)
• Astragalus inversus — U.C. Photo gallery