Fabaceae in the Bighorns

Submitted by Vaxvick on

This plant was fairly common at high altitude in the Bighorn Range of Wyoming last June.  The prominent keel makes one think of Oxytropis but maybe it is an Astragalus.  Any ideas?

Linda Vaxvick, Calgary

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Comments

Submitted by Lori S. on Fri, 12/23/2016 - 09:59

Hi, Linda,

As there have no responses here...

There is an excellent plant ID site on Facebook that is monitored by some western plant experts.  Chances are good of getting a quick ID there.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/156706504394635/

Hope this helps,

Lori

Submitted by Vaxvick on Fri, 12/23/2016 - 21:59

Thanks Lori. One of the experts there says it is A. miser var. decumbens.  There are several varieties of A. miser in BC, AB, Montana, Wyoming.  Most are not as dwarf as this one, which would be a very nice addition to a rock garden.

 

Submitted by Parker on Thu, 10/26/2017 - 13:35

I saw what might have been the same species last August in both the Big Horns and the Medicine Bow NF. I tentatively identified it as Astragalus missiouriensis, based on the very hairy grey leaves of the ones I saw.