Fabaceae

Astragalus whitneyi

Whitney's Locoweed

Tuft with spreading branches. Stems point upward with lower leaf stalks fused around stem. Leaflets 13–19, oblong. Flowers well separated, cream; upper petal in some varieties pink or purple. Seedpods are large, inflated, egg-shaped bladders, somewhat transparent, green to tan blotched with red. Grows in rocky soils at mid- to high elevations. When dry you can hear the seed rattle inside large inflated chamber. There are 3 varieties in Oregon and Washington.

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Flowering Time: All Summer
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 2--10 inches
• Habitat: Subalpine, Alpine
• Found In: Siskiyous
• Native: Yes