Narrowleaf Milkvetch
Narrowleaf Milkvetch, Narrowleaf Poisonvetch
[Astragalus pectinatus (Douglas ex Hook.) Douglas ex G. Don.]
Fabaceae (Legume Family)
mature, flowering plants, showing linear leaflets and creamy white flowers ▼ ▲
top-views of flowering ▲, and fruiting plants ▼
flowers ▼ ▲
flower and leaf detail ▲
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Narrowleaf Milkvetch is a midwest native plant found on alkaline, chalky soils, and in high-selenium content soils. More may be found in areas where there has been some soil disturbance or overgrazing.
The entire plant (not just flowers) has a unique, characteristic, strong musky odor that is evident when they are nearby. The plant tends to have an ascending to spreading branching pattern, with several branches arising from a simple perennial tap root, and pinnately-compound leaves with linear leaflets. Stems usually are green, but may be reddish green. They have open, broad racemes of showy creamy-white flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by elongated-rounded, fleshy pods.
Consumption of narrowleaf poisonvetch can cause selenium toxicity in grazing animals. This plant usually will not be grazed if more desirable vegetation is available.
Narrowleaf Poisonvetch: (p. 301, Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)
- Simple perennial with pinnately compound leaves with very long, slender dark-green leaflets
- Stems are upright spreading--about 12-24 inches tall and wide
- Flowers are showy, creamy-white, pea-like in mid to late spring
- Fruit is a short, reddish, fat pod
- Are selenium accumulators found in high selenium soils of western Midwest, plus may have other alkaloids
- Found on prairies, rangeland, roadsides