The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California

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Names are linked to treatments from the Manual


Key to ASTRAGALUS Key to Groups

N.B.: couplets are linked, e.g., 1. is linked to 1'.

  1. Corolla bright red, banner 35–41 mm; calyx 18–24 mm; fruit 25–40 mm, densely woolly
A. coccineus
  1' Corolla not red, banner < 35 mm; calyx < 18 mm; fruit often < 25 mm, often not woolly
 
    2. Leaflet ± 1 mm wide, spine-tipped; raceme 1–3-flowered, ± included in axil; peduncle inconspicuous or 0; flower and fruit 4–9 mm
A. kentrophyta vars.
    2' Leaflet generally > 1 mm wide, not spine-tipped; raceme often > 3-flowered, well exserted from axil; peduncle conspicuous; flower 3–30 mm; fruit 2–60 mm
 
      3. Plants of California Floristic Province
Group 1
      3' Plants of Great Basin Floristic Province or Desert
 
        4. Plants of Desert
Group 2
        4' Plants of Great Basin Floristic Province
Group 3

Key to ASTRAGALUS Group 1: plants of California Floristic Province

N.B.: couplets are linked, e.g., 1. is linked to 1'.

  1. Annual
 
    2. Banner ± 3 mm; flowers early dense, ascending, then well separated, reflexed; fruit reflexed, 2.8–4.2 mm, width > depth — fruits overlapping, ovate or ± round in top view — common
A. gambelianus
    2' Banner generally > 3 mm; flowers remaining dense, erect if banner ± 3 mm, otherwise erect, spreading, or reflexed; fruit generally > 4 mm, if not then width ± = or < depth
 
      3. Flower, fruit strongly ascending, in dense, head-like racemes; fruit 2–4 mm, 2-lobed in X-section, 2-chambered
A. didymocarpus
      3' Flower, fruit often ascending early, then spreading or reflexed, often in loose racemes; fruit > 4 mm, generally unlobed in X-section, 1–2-chambered
 
        4. Inflorescence 10–40-flowered; fruit inflated, papery, 1-chambered, 4–17 mm wide, sides generally strongly convex
 
          5. Corolla generally white; flowers, fruits in dense, oblong or subspheric, head-like racemes
2 A. hornii var. hornii
          5' Corolla generally pink-purple; flowers early dense, then ± well separated, fruits loosely clustered in elongate racemes
2 A. palmeri
        4' Inflorescence 2–14-flowered; fruit narrow, ± 2-chambered, < 4 mm wide, sides parallel or slightly convex
 
          6. Plant silvery-canescent; local, Cushenbury Canyon (ne San Bernardino Mountains, adjacent Mojave Desert)
2 A. albens
          6' Plant greenish, ± hairy; widespread, not of Cushenbury Canyon
 
            7. Fruit body 5–10 mm, tapered to spine-like or hooked beak ± = body; immature seeds 2–6; fruits in head- or umbel-like racemes
A. breweri
            7' Fruit body > 10 mm or beak < 1/4 × body; immature seeds 5–20; fruits in sometimes head- or umbel-like racemes
 
              8. Keel > wings; fruit base stalk-like, receptacle with peg-like extension (evident in calyx after fruit drop)
A. clarianus
              8' Keel < wings; fruit base sometimes ± stalk-like, receptacle without peg-like extension
 
                9. Inflorescence 2–7-flowered, open, axis in fruit 7–20 mm; fruit blushed or ± purple-mottled
A. pauperculus
                9' Inflorescence 2–12-flowered, ± dense, axis in fruit 1–8 mm; fruit green, maturing straw-colored or black
 
                  10. Fruit on erect peduncles; seeds pitted; North Coast Ranges
A. rattanii vars.
                  10' Fruit on spreading or reflexed peduncles; seeds smooth; Great Central Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast
A. tener vars.
  1' Perennial
 
    11. Hairs forked at base; corolla cream; fruit erect; Modoc Plateau, n East of Sierra Nevada (possibly adjacent California Floristic Province)
A. canadensis var. brevidens
    11' Hairs simple; corolla often pink-purple, white, or yellow; fruit erect to reflexed; often not of Modoc Plateau, n East of Sierra Nevada, and adjacent California Floristic Province
 
      12. Calyx 10–12 mm, base with pouch on upper side; flowers reflexed — petals dull yellow; fruit hanging from stalk-like base; n High Sierra Nevada
A. gibbsii
      12' Calyx generally < 10 mm, base generally ± symmetric, without pouch; flowers ascending or spreading if calyx > 10 mm
 
        13. Terminal leaflet not or only obscurely jointed to midrib, joint unlike that of lateral leaflet; lateral leaflets often reduced or 0, spaces between generally >> 1.5 × leaflet width; leaves few, sparse
 
          14. Calyx 8–10 mm; petals whitish; fruit ± 4-sided
2 A. bicristatus
          14' Calyx 4–5 mm; petals reddish pink and yellow; fruit 2-sided
A. inversus
        13' Terminal leaflet clearly jointed to midrib, joint like that of lateral leaflet; lateral leaflets present, spaces between rarely > 1.5 × leaflet width; leaves generally many, not sparse
 
          15. Plant tufted or matted; stem < 15 cm (generally much shorter), from crown at surface; hairs dense, plant grayish or silvery; flowers strongly ascending
 
            16. Banner, wings hairy on outside; fruit 5–7 mm, ± included in calyx
A. austiniae
            16' Banner, wings glabrous on outside; fruit > 7 mm, well exserted from calyx
 
              17. Calyx 4–6 mm; fruit 3-sided, < 4 mm wide; hairs of stem, leaf sparse, ± straight, generally < 0.5 mm
A. obscurus
              17' Calyx 6–14 mm; fruit swollen, ± round or 2-lobed in X-section, > 4 mm wide; hairs of stem, leaf dense, curly, often > 0.5 mm
 
                18. Fruit hairs generally > 1.5 mm, completely hiding surface
A. purshii vars.
                18' Fruit hairs rarely > (generally <<) 1 mm, sometimes not hiding surface
 
                  19. Petals whitish, with some lilac, banner 11–13.3 mm; fruit 8–15 mm; leaflets 7–13
A. subvestitus
                  19' Petals pink-purple, banner 16–18.5 mm; fruit 13–25 mm; leaflets 7–19
A. leucolobus
          15' Plant generally open; stem generally > 15 cm, generally from crown at or sometimes below surface; if plant low and tufted then flowers ultimately spreading or reflexed, or hairs sparse, or both
 
            20. Lower stipules fused around stem into sheath, (sometimes very low and ± inconspicuous or ruptured early and seemingly not fused)
 
              21. Leaflets of at least some leaves > 22; petals ± white or cream
 
                22. Banner 7–10 mm; fruit 6–11 mm, beak long, slender, hooked
A. pycnostachyus vars.
                22' Banner 10–19 mm (slightly shorter when dry); fruit often > 11 mm, beak not long, not hooked
 
                  23. Plant grayish-white-woolly; stipules finely tomentose; Channel Islands
A. miguelensis
                  23' Plant greenish even if hairy; stipules generally glabrous or sparsely hairy, sometimes densely strigose; Channel Islands or mainland
 
                    24. Fruit base not stalk-like; stems not more densely hairy than leaves; generally coastal
A. nuttallii vars.
                    24' Fruit base stalk-like; stems sometimes more densely hairy than leaves; often non-coastal
 
                      25. Flowers early spreading, then quickly reflexed; stalk-like fruit base 5–40 mm, ± strigose
 
                        26. Stalk-like fruit base 14–40 mm
A. asymmetricus
                        26' Stalk-like fruit base 5–17 mm
2 A. trichopodus vars.
                      25' Flowers early ascending or spreading, then often reflexed; stalk-like fruit base 2–12 mm, glabrous, strigose, or shaggy
 
                        27. Stalk of ovary, fruit with ± wavy, ± ascending hairs; lower stipules sometimes densely shaggy
A. oxyphysus
                        27' Stalk of ovary, fruit glabrous or sparsely strigose; lower stipules ± glabrous or sparsely shaggy
 
                          28. Stalk-like fruit base 5–12 mm, jointed at base; fruit ± 2-lobed in X-section, 2-chambered; High Sierra Nevada
2 A. bolanderi
                          28' Stalk-like fruit base 2–6 mm, jointed at top; fruit ± round in X-section, 1-chambered; s Central Coast, w South Coast Ranges, n Channel Islands
A. curtipes
              21' Leaflets generally < 22; petals white, cream, pinkish, or purplish
 
                29. Stalk-like fruit base at least 2 mm
 
                  30. Fruit ± narrowly oblong in side view, strongly compressed side-to-side, hairy
 
                    31. Calyx tube 5.2–7 mm, hairs ± spreading, wavy; fruit body 27–43 mm
A. californicus
                    31' Calyx tube 3–3.5 mm, hairs ± appressed; fruit body 17–30 mm
2 A. filipes
                  30' Fruit widely oblong, ovoid, or roundish in side view, swollen, often glabrous
 
                    32. Fruit bladdery, thinly papery
A. whitneyi vars.
                    32' Fruit swollen, often ± inflated, but not bladdery, not thinly papery
 
                      33. Fruit body stiffly leathery or ± woody when dry, pendent on a down-curved stalk-like base, 1-chambered
2 A. bicristatus
                      33' Fruit body stiffly papery when dry, erect or ± spreading, at angle on ascending to ± reflexed stalk-like base, 2-chambered
2 A. bolanderi
                29' Stalk-like fruit base 0 or < 2 mm
 
                  34. Calyx 8–13 mm; banner 14–19 mm
 
                    35. Flowers spreading, 10–30 per inflorescence
2 A. sepultipes
                    35' Flowers ascending to ± spreading, 6–14 per inflorescence
A. webberi
                  34' Calyx < 9 mm; banner 5.2–14 (generally < 12) mm
 
                    36. Stem 1–10 cm, from crown below surface; fruit swollen but not bladdery, walls becoming stiffly papery or leathery
 
                      37. Inflorescence 7–17-flowered; peduncle ± stout, hairs spreading; s High Sierra Nevada, n Tehachapi Mountain Area, 1750–1900 m
2 A. ertterae
                      37' Inflorescence 2–8-flowered; peduncle ± thread-like, hairs appressed; s High Sierra Nevada, 3400–3450 m
A. ravenii
                    36' Stem > 10 cm, generally from crown at surface (1–35 cm if from crown below surface); fruit bladdery with thinly papery walls or swollen with stiffly papery or leathery walls
 
                      38. Fruit 1-chambered; crown below surface
 
                        39. Stem ± prostrate; fruit bladdery, blunt at both ends, 10–20 mm
A. pulsiferae vars.
                        39' Stem decumbent to ascending; fruit narrow, ± 3-sided near base, tapered at both ends, 13–31 mm
A. shevockii
                      38' Fruit 2-chambered; crown at surface
 
                        40. Inflorescence 5–10-flowered; fruit 5–9 mm
A. lentiformis
                        40' Inflorescence 12–26-flowered; fruit 10–18 mm
A. andersonii
            20' Lower stipules not fused into sheath or sometimes fused into a sheath around stem but ruptured early and seemingly not fused (see 20.) (underground stipules, if present, sometimes fused)
 
              41. Stalk-like fruit base > 3 mm; corolla white to yellow
 
                42. Channel Islands (San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, San Clemente islands), fruit ± 2-chambered, not bladdery — lower side of fruit grooved; leaves softly hairy
 
                  43. Banner 10.6–12.7 mm; ovary, fruit glabrous
A. nevinii
                  43' Banner 14.2–17.5 mm; ovary, fruit hairy
A. traskiae
                42' Mainland, if insular then fruit 1-chambered, bladdery
 
                  44. Flowers, fruits strongly ascending; leaflets linear or linear-oblong, upper side silvery-strigose, lower less densely strigose, greenish or grayish; leaves few, sparse — plant bushy, stems wiry
A. pachypus vars.
                  44' Flowers, fruits spreading to reflexed; leaflets linear-lanceolate to widely obovate, both sides greenish or ± gray-strigose; leaves many, not sparse
 
                    45. Inflorescence 7–15-flowered; fruit fleshy; Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills
A. accidens var. hendersonii
                    45' Inflorescence 10–65-flowered; fruit papery; not of Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills
 
                      46. Stalk-like fruit base spreading-, wavy-hairy
A. oxyphysus
                      46' Stalk-like fruit base strigose or ± glabrous
 
                        47. Leaflets 9–19; fruit strongly compressed side-to-side
2 A. filipes
                        47' Leaflets 15–39; fruit strongly compressed side-to-side to swollen and bladdery
2 A. trichopodus vars.
              41' Stalk-like fruit base 0 or < 3 mm; corolla white to yellow, pinkish, or purplish
 
                48. Leaflets 5–9; plant silvery; Cushenbury Canyon (ne San Bernardino Mountains, adjacent Mojave Desert)
2 A. albens
                48' Leaflets on most leaves > 9; plants often green; widespread, including Cushenbury Canyon
 
                  49. Fruit 5–7 mm, 2-chambered; calyx 3–4 mm; banner 4–7 mm
 
                    50. Stem 3–10 dm; flowers reflexed, 20–95 per inflorescence
A. clevelandii
                    50' Stem 1–4 dm; flowers strongly ascending, 2–13 per inflorescence
A. lemmonii
                  49' Fruit 9–60 mm, 2- or often 1-chambered; calyx 4–13 mm; banner > 7 mm
 
                    51. Fruit bladdery, walls ± thinly papery
 
                      52. Middle of fruit 2-chambered, beak strongly compressed side-to-side, triangular in side view, 1-chambered; banner recurved 30–50°
2 A. lentiginosus vars.
                      52' Middle of fruit 1-chambered, beak often not strongly compressed, not triangular in side view, sometimes 2-chambered; banner recurved 40–90°, often > 60°
 
                        53. Flowers, fruits crowded in head-like clusters 2.5–3.5 cm wide in fruit; fruit 12–18 mm, ascending, hairs ± spreading
2 A. hornii var. hornii
                        53' Flowers, fruits, if crowded, in clusters > 3.5 cm wide in fruit; fruit generally > 20 mm, often spreading, hairs ± appressed or becoming 0
 
                          54. Banner generally > 11 mm, recurved ± 40–45°; leaflets often > 25 (see also A. macrodon, lead 56.)
 
                            55. Leaflets 19–29, not clearly smaller from leaf base to tip; midrib of leaflet prominently raised on lower side; immature seeds 29–40; 250–300 m, Peninsular Ranges (sw San Diego Co.)
A. deanei
                            55' Leaflets 25–41, clearly, gradually smaller from leaf base to tip; midrib of leaflet not prominently raised on lower surface; immature seeds 35–55; 50–700 m, s Outer South Coast Ranges, South Coast, Peninsular Ranges, nw Baja California
A. pomonensis
                          54' Banner generally < 11 mm, recurved 60–90°; leaflets generally < 25 (see also A. deanii, lead 55.)
 
                            56. Leaf, fruit minutely strigose or becoming glabrous; leaflet margin, midrib green; calyx lobes 0.7–2.6 mm; immature seeds 51–71; s Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Great Central Valley, Central Western California, Southwestern California
A. douglasii vars.
                            56' Leaf, fruit ± wavy- or incurled-hairy; leaflet margin, midrib generally purple; calyx lobes 2.5- 4.3 mm; immature seeds 29–52; c&s Central Western California
A. macrodon
                    51' Fruit narrow or swollen but not bladdery, walls stiffly papery, leathery, or woody (fruit inflated but not bladdery, walls stiffly papery in A. oocarpus, A. palmeri)
 
                      57. Stem 3.5–10 cm, widely spreading-hairy, from crown below surface; s High Sierra Nevada, n Tehachapi Mountain Area
2 A. ertterae
                      57' Stem generally > 10 cm, ascending- or appressed-strigose or ± glabrous, generally from crown at surface; widespread, including s High Sierra Nevada, n Tehachapi Mountain Area
 
                        58. Stem erect to widely ascending, 60–150 cm; sw Southwestern California
 
                          59. Flower reflexed; corolla dull lilac; fruit reflexed, deciduous, < 10 mm, densely wavy-hairy
A. brauntonii
                          59' Flower widely ascending; corolla cream; fruit erect, persistent, 15–25 mm, ± glabrous
A. oocarpus
                        58' Stem decumbent to erect, < 60 cm (> 60 cm in n California Floristic Province); widespread
 
                          60. Fruit 1-chambered throughout, thickly papery, ± bladdery; flowers spreading; corolla often pink-purple (or cream); w edge Sonoran Desert, adjacent foothills of San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges
2 A. palmeri
                          60' Fruit ± 2-chambered, at least in middle, often throughout, thinly papery to stiffly leathery or woody, linear to very swollen and bladdery; flowers ascending to reflexed; corolla cream or pink-purple; widespread
 
                            61. Beak of fruit triangular in side view, compressed strongly side-to-side, 1-chambered; fruit > 5 mm wide, swollen, both sutures ± sunken; corolla purplish or whitish
2 A. lentiginosus vars.
                            61' Beak of fruit acuminate to ± triangular in side view, generally not compressed strongly, 2-chambered; fruit generally < 5 mm wide, ± 3-sided, lower suture generally sunken, upper raised; corolla pinkish or greenish white or whitish
 
                              62. Fruit, ovary glabrous
 
                                63. Plant ± glabrous; fruit body 14–24 mm, spreading or reflexed; Klamath Ranges, Outer North Coast Ranges
A. umbraticus
                                63' Plant minutely strigose, especially above; fruit body 20–42 mm, ascending; San Bernardino Mountains, Desert Mountains
 
                                  64. Leaflets 7–19; banner 7–10.2 mm; calyx tube 2.7–4.1 mm
A. bernardianus
                                  64' Leaflets 17–27; banner 12.6–15.7 mm; calyx tube 4.1–5 mm
A. tricarinatus
                              62' Fruit, ovary hairy
 
                                65. Flowers 6–14 per inflorescence, strongly ascending; fruit erect; stem 5–15 cm; se Klamath Ranges, Modoc Plateau
A. obscurus
                                65' Flowers generally 10–40 per inflorescence, spreading or reflexed; fruit loosely ascending or reflexed; stem > 15 cm; East of Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Outer North Coast Ranges
 
                                  66. Herbage silvery-silky, hairs wavy; banner 13–18 mm, pink-white — East of Sierra Nevada, perhaps eastern edge High Sierra Nevada
2 A. sepultipes
                                  66' Herbage green, ± glabrous (grayish hairy in c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills); banner often < 14 mm, whitish
 
                                    67. Calyx lobes 3–5 mm; fruit 11–15 mm; Outer North Coast Ranges
A. agnicidus
                                    67' Calyx lobes 1–3 mm; fruit 15–35 mm; c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills
A. congdonii

Key to ASTRAGALUS Group 2: plants of Desert Province

N.B.: couplets are linked, e.g., 1. is linked to 1'.

  1. Terminal leaflet not or only obscurely jointed to midrib, joint unlike that of lateral leaflet; lateral leaflets often reduced or 0, spaces between generally >> 1.5 × leaflet width; leaves few, sparse
 
    2. Banner 10–14.2 mm; leaflets 3–13; fruit half-ovoid to ± spheric, bladdery
A. magdalenae var. peirsonii
    2' Banner 17–26 mm; leaflets 5–11; fruit plumply oblong, not bladdery
A. serenoi var. shockleyi
  1' Terminal leaflet clearly jointed to midrib, joint like that of lateral leaflet; lateral leaflets present, spaces between rarely > 1.5 × leaflet width; leaves generally many, not sparse
 
    3. Hairs dense, forked at base; leaflets 1–7, crowded near leaf tip
A. calycosus var. calycosus
    3' Hairs 0 to dense, not forked; leaflets often > 7, generally not crowded near leaf tip
 
      4. Annual (or flowering first year and appearing so)
 
        5. Flower, fruit strongly ascending in dense, head-like racemes; fruit ± spheric, 2–4 mm
A. didymocarpus vars.
        5' Flower, fruit ± ascending to spreading in often open racemes; fruit linear to ± ovate-inflated, > 4 mm
 
          6. Keel 10–21 mm
 
            7. Plant densely shaggy-hairy; stem generally << 7 cm, ± prostrate, often nearly 0; fruit 1-chambered
2 A. tidestromii
            7' Plant ± glabrous to strigose; stem > 9 cm, prostrate to erect; fruit 1- or 2-chambered
 
              8. Keel 10–13 mm; fruit 2-chambered at middle
4 A. lentiginosus vars.
              8' Keel 17–21 mm; fruit 1-chambered
2 A. crotalariae
          6' Keel 2–10.5 mm
 
            9. Fruit bladdery, walls thinly papery, translucent
 
              10. Inflorescence generally 10–35-flowered
 
                11. Leaflets 11–33; fruit 1-chambered throughout
A. hornii var. hornii
                11' Leaflets 11–19; fruit 2-chambered below beak
4 A. lentiginosus vars.
              10' Inflorescence generally 2–10-flowered
 
                12. Corolla whitish; leaflets 11–19; upper suture of fruit convex; immature seeds 13–21
A. allochrous var. playanus
                12' Corolla purplish; leaflets 7–19; upper suture of fruit straight or convex; immature seeds 7–24
 
                  13. Keel 4.8–6 mm; leaflets generally 11–19; upper suture of fruit much less convex than lower; immature seeds 7–14
A. insularis var. hardwoodii
                  13' Keel 5.9–6.6 mm; leaflets generally 7–13; upper and lower sutures of fruit ± equally convex; immature seeds 19–24
2 A. nutans
            9' Fruit linear or swollen, not bladdery, walls papery (but not especially translucent) or leathery
 
              14. Inflorescence 20–40-flowered
2 A. palmeri
              14' Inflorescence < 20-flowered
 
                15. Fruit 1-chambered, swollen, half-ovate or -elliptic in side view, ± ovate or round in X-section
 
                  16. Plant, fruit hairs appressed, ± straight, ± obscuring surface; immature seeds 3–7
A. aridus
                  16' Plant, fruit hairs ascending or spreading, ± wavy, not obscuring surface; immature seeds 10–19
A. sabulonum
                15' Fruit 2-, rarely 1-chambered, then often ± linear, curved, ± 2- or 3-sided in X-section
 
                  17. Upper surface of leaflets sparsely hairy; inflorescence 1–6-flowered; keel < 6 mm; fruit often < 3 mm wide
 
                    18. Leaflets of upper leaves generally blunt, notched at tip; fruit quickly deciduous, maturing pale brown
A. acutirostris
                    18' Leaflets of upper leaves generally acute at tip; fruit persistent, maturing dark brown or blackish
A. nuttallianus vars.
                  17' Upper surface of leaflets silvery-canescent; inflorescences 3–16-flowered; keel > 6 mm; fruit often > 3 mm wide
 
                    19. Fruit 10–18 mm, 2.8–3.5 mm wide, incurved, ± 3-sided; immature seeds 8–11; Cushenbury Canyon (of ne San Bernardino Mountains, adjacent Mojave Desert)
2 A. albens
                    19' Fruit 13–32 mm, 3.5–8.5 mm wide, straight, ± 2-sided, or incurved, ± 3-sided; immature seeds 20–30; widespread in Mojave Desert
2 A. mohavensis vars.
      4' Perennial
 
        20. Fruit, generally ovary, glabrous (A. douglasii, A. nutans also sometimes glabrous, under 20')
 
          21. Leaflet hairs 0 or few, restricted to margins, midrib on 1 or both surfaces; fruit base stalk-like
 
            22. Flowers early ascending, then sometimes reflexed; keel 9.5–10.6 mm; fruit ± ascending, ± 2-chambered
A. cimae vars.
            22' Flowers strongly ascending; keel 11–19 mm; fruit erect, 1-chambered
2 A. preussii vars.
          21' Leaflet hairs ± throughout 1 or both surfaces; fruit base stalk-like or not
 
            23. Keel 6–9.4 mm; fruit 2-chambered, at least at middle
 
              24. Plant often coarse, leafy, generally in open; stem not wiry; fruit sessile — fruit swollen, beak strongly compressed side-to-side, triangular in side view, 1-chambered
4 A. lentiginosus vars.
              24' Plant slender, sparsely leafy, often in shelter of shrubs; stem ± wiry; stalk-like fruit base 1–5 mm
 
                25. Flowers 10–25 per inflorescence, ascending; fruit ascending, 3-sided
A. bernardianus
                25' Flowers 5–15 per inflorescence, early ascending, then reflexed; fruit pendent, ± 2-sided
A. jaegerianus
            23' Keel 9.7–19 mm; fruit 1- or 2-chambered
 
              26. Calyx glabrous; banner recurved ± 85°; fruit bladdery, 1-chambered, base stalk-like
A. oophorous var. oophorous
              26' Calyx strigose; banner recurved < 50°; fruit ovoid or narrow, not bladdery, ± 2-chambered base, stalk-like or not
 
                27. Corolla pink-purple; leaflets very narrow, upper surface often paler than lower (silvery vs greenish); fruit erect, sessile; n Inyo Co.
A. serenoi var. shockleyi
                27' Corolla white or cream; leaflets narrow or wide, upper surface not paler than lower; fruit ascending to pendent, stalk-like base 1–10 mm; w or sw edge of Desert
 
                  28. Banner 15–22 mm; fruit 15–27 mm, swollen, ± compressed side-to-side; leaflets sometimes > 17
A. pachypus vars.
                  28' Banner 12.6–15.7 mm; fruit 24–42 mm, ± linear, thin-walled, 3-sided; leaflets 17–27
A. tricarinatus
        20' Fruit, ovary with at least some hairs (A. douglasii, A. nutans sometimes glabrous)
 
          29. Plant conspicuously woolly- or wavy-hairy; stems < 9 cm, generally densely tufted
 
            30. Leaflets > 21, at least on some leaves; inflorescence 10–35-flowered; se Mojave Desert
A. tephrodes var. brachylobus
            30' Leaflets not > 21 on any leaf (rarely to 23 in A. layneae); inflorescence often < 10-flowered (10–45-flowered in A. layneae); widespread
 
              31. Keel 18–28 mm; fruit 1-chambered, densely white-hairy
 
                32. Calyx with more black than white hairs; fruit 25–50 mm; leaf bases not notably persistent on crown; ne Desert Mountains (eastern of Death Valley)
A. funereus
                32' Calyx generally with more white than black hairs; fruit 13–28 mm; leaf bases persistent on crown; widespread, including Desert Mountains
A. newberryi var. newberryi
              31' Keel generally < 20 mm; fruit 2-chambered if densely white-hairy
 
                33. Inflorescence 10–45-flowered; corolla 2-colored, whitish with keel tip, wing tips, and sometimes banner tip purplish; fruit hairs spreading — plants from deep rhizomes (± stless plants of A. minthorniae will key out here; see 37.)
2 A. layneae
                33' Inflorescence 3–16-flowered; corolla pink-purple or ± 2-colored (± as at 33.); fruit hairs appressed or densely white-cottony
 
                  34. Keel 11.5–20.8 mm; petals pink-purple; fruit often ± 2-chambered, hairs spreading or curly, densely white-cottony
A. purshii var. tinctus
                  34' Keel 10–12 mm; petals whitish, tinged dull purple; fruit 1-chambered, hairs generally appressed
2 A. tidestromii
          29' Plant hairy to ± glabrous; stems generally > 9 cm (if < 9 cm, plant not woolly- or wavy-hairy), tufted or not
 
            35. Stem < 16 cm, from deep rhizome; corolla 2-colored, whitish with keel tip, wing tips, and sometimes banner tip purplish
2 A. layneae
            35' Stem often > 15 cm, from crown at or slightly below surface; corolla 1- or 2-colored
 
              36. Leaflet hairs 0 or few on margins, midrib on 1 or both sides; stalk-like fruit base 0 or 2–7 mm
2 A. preussii vars.
              36' Leaflet hairs at least few, ± throughout 1 or both sides; stalk-like fruit base 0 or < 3 mm
 
                37. Stem, leaf hairs spreading, sometimes curly, 0.8–1.5 mm; fruit shaggy-hairy, ± erect
A. minthorniae var. villosus
                37' Stem, leaf hairs appressed, if spreading then < 0.8 mm; fruit often strigose or silky-canescent, erect to reflexed or pendent
 
                  38. Stem slender, wiry, incurved, < 15 cm; petioles persistent, wiry; inflorescence 1–4-flowered; — plants of limestone, resembling an unkempt nest
A. panamintensis
                  38' Stem slender or coarse, if wiry then not incurved, often > 15 cm; petioles deciduous, not wiry; inflorescence often > 4-flowered
 
                    39. Petals dingy white at least at base, dull lilac on margins or tips; wings ± twisted, tips shortly fringed or notched; fruit pendent, ± compressed side-to-side, 2-chambered
A. atratus var. mensanus
                    39' Petals white to ± purple; wings plane or curved, tips not fringed, not notched; fruit erect to reflexed, ± 3-sided or round in X-section, sometimes plump and widely grooved on upper side, 1- or 2-chambered
 
                      40. Fruit 2-chambered in middle, beak often 1-chambered; banner recurved 30–50°
 
                        41. Leaflets generally > 11; fruit X-section ± round, upper suture generally ± sunken in a wide channel; plant generally robust — fruit beak widely triangular, 1-chambered
4 A. lentiginosus vars.
                        41' Leaflets 3–11; fruit ± 2- or 3-sided, upper suture raised; plant robust or delicate
 
                          42. Fruit 10–18 mm, 2.8–3.5 mm wide, incurved, ± 3-sided; immature seeds 8–11; Cushenbury Canyon (ne San Bernardino Mountains, adjacent Mojave Desert)
2 A. albens
                          42' Fruit 13–32 mm, 3.5–8.5 mm wide, straight, ± 2-sided, or incurved, ± 3-sided; immature seeds 20–30; widespread in Mojave Desert
2 A. mohavensis vars.
                      40' Fruit 1-chambered throughout; banner recurved 45–90°
 
                        43. Of the following, all true: most leaves with > 19 leaflets; fruit bladdery; inflorescence > 14-flowered
A. douglasii vars.
                        43' Of the following, 1 true: most leaves with < 19 leaflets; fruit swollen but not bladdery; inflorescence < 12-flowered
 
                          44. Banner > 11 mm; calyx generally > 7 mm; fruit stiffly papery or leathery
 
                            45. Keel < 14 mm; fruit reflexed, 5–10 mm wide; East of Sierra Nevada, Desert Mountains (Inyo Co.)
A. casei
                            45' Keel > 17 mm; fruit ascending or spreading, 10–14 mm wide; Sonoran Desert
2 A. crotalariae
                          44' Banner < 11 mm; calyx 4–7 mm; fruit bladdery, ± papery
 
                            46. Inflorescence generally 10–40-flowered; petals generally bright pink-purple; w edge Sonoran Desert, adjacent foothills of San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges
2 A. palmeri
                            46' Inflorescence often < 10-flowered; petals whitish or pink-purple; c&e Sonoran Desert, e Mojave Desert
 
                              47. Petals whitish; leaflets 11–19; fruit beak short, obscure
A. allochrous var. playanus
                              47' Petals pink-purple; leaflets 7–13; fruit beak deltate, strongly compressed side-to-side
 
                                48. Banner 6.1–8 mm; immature seeds 8–12; n Mojave Desert (Panamint Mtns), > 2000 m
A. gilmanii
                                48' Banner 7.8–10.4 mm; immature seeds 19-24; eastern Mojave Desert, < 2000 m
2 A. nutans

Key to ASTRAGALUS Group 3: plants of Great Basin Province

N.B.: couplets are linked, e.g., 1. is linked to 1'.

  1. Terminal leaflet not or only obscurely jointed to midrib, joint unlike that of lateral leaflet; lateral leaflets often reduced or 0, spaces between generally >> 1.5 × leaflet width; leaves few, sparse
 
    2. Fruit strongly compressed side-to-side, base stalk-like; banner 9.4–12.2 mm
A. inversus
    2' Fruit cylindric or ± compressed side-to-side, sessile; banner 17–26 mm
A. serenoi var. shockleyi
  1' Terminal leaflet clearly jointed to midrib, joint like that of lateral leaflet; lateral leaflets present, spaces between rarely > 1.5 × leaflet width; leaves generally many, not sparse
 
    3. Annual, slender, rarely persisting into second season
 
      4. Banner 3–5 mm; fruit < 4 mm
A. didymocarpus var. dispermus
      4' Banner 4.7–7.6 mm; fruit > 12 mm
 
        5. Fruit not bladdery, not inflated, 2–3 mm wide; leaflet upper surface ± appressed-hairy
A. acutirostris
        5' Fruit inflated, 6–10 mm wide; leaflet upper surface ± glabrous
A. geyeri var. geyeri
    3' Perennial, often coarse — flower, fruit > 5 mm
 
      6. Leaf hairs forked at base
 
        7. Leaflets 1–7
A. calycosus var. calycosus
        7' Leaflets 7–25
A. canadensis var. brevidens
      6' Leaf hairs simple
 
        8. Fruit densely white-hairy, resembling a small ball of cotton; stem 0–14 cm; plant hairs dense, of 2 kinds or not
 
          9. Stems forming a thickened crown covered by persistent leaf bases; longer hairs of leaf generally straight, some spreading; some fruit hairs curly and short, some long and ± straight (see also A. platytropis)
A. newberryi var. newberryi
          9' Stems tufted or matted, leaf bases not persistent; longer hairs of leaf wavy, tangled; fruit hairs all ± wavy or all straight
A. purshii vars.
        8' Fruit sometimes silvery-hairy, but not resembling a small ball of cotton; stem often > 10 cm; plant hairs sparse or dense, generally not of 2 kinds
 
          10. Calyx base strongly asymmetric, pedicel attached at lower side, upper ± pouched; petals white to yellowish; fruit curved 1/4 to ± full circle, base stalk-like
 
            11. Stem hairs subappressed or incurved; fruit 2.5–4.5 mm wide; lowest stipules not fused
A. curvicarpus var. curvicarpus
            11' Stem hairs spreading or reflexed; fruit 4–8 mm wide; lowest stipules fused around stem into low sheath
A. gibbsii
          10' Calyx base ± symmetric, pedicel attached ± at middle, upper side not conspicuously pouched; petals white, yellowish, or purplish pink; fruit straight to curved ± full circle, base stalk-like or not
 
            12. Fruit pendent, early ± flat, then bulged around seeds, base slender, stalk-like; corolla white or cream
 
              13. Calyx, leaf hairs wavy, ± ascending or spreading; calyx > 6 mm
A. californicus
              13' Calyx, leaf hairs ± straight, appressed; calyx generally < 6 mm
A. filipes
            12' Fruit erect to pendent, early ± swollen then ± round, triangular, or 2-lobed in X-section, base stalk-like or not; corolla whitish, yellowish, or purplish
 
              14. Lower stipules fused around stem into short sheath (often ruptured by stem expansion or missing on specimens without base)
 
                15. Stalk-like fruit base > 0.5 mm
 
                  16. Banner < 6 mm; fruit body narrow, 7–11 mm, 3-sided
A. johannis-howellii
                  16' Banner > 8 mm; fruit body bladdery, > 15 mm, X-section ± round
A. whitneyi vars.
                15' Stalk-like fruit base 0 (see also A. johannis-howellii, 16.)
 
                  17. Banner often 4.8–9 mm; fruit 1-chambered (± 2-chambered in A. ravenii); stem delicate, 1–20 cm
 
                    18. Fruit generally compressed side-to-side, ± 3-sided, 3.5–4.5 mm, hairs subappressed, ± straight; banner 4.8–5.2 mm, recurved ± 60–80°
A. anxius
                    18' Fruit bladdery, ± round in X-section, 10–20 mm, hairs spreading, wavy; banner 5.2–8.5 mm, recurved 90–100°
2 A. pulsiferae vars.
                  17' Banner often > 9 mm; fruit ± 2-chambered; stem often coarse, 0–35 cm
 
                    19. Herbage very sparsely hairy or ± glabrous; flowers, fruits strongly ascending, crowded in ovoid, head-like racemes
2 A. agrestis
                    19' Herbage densely hairy; flowers ultimately spreading or reflexed, fruits ± ascending to reflexed, crowded or not
 
                      20. Plants cespitose; stem < 2 cm; fruit bladdery
A. platytropis
                      20' Plants tufted or loosely matted; stem > 5 cm; fruit not bladdery
 
                        21. Crown at surface; lowest few internodes above surface, densely white-tomentose; fruit X-section bluntly triangular
A. andersonii
                        21' Crown below surface; lowest few internodes below surface, ± glabrous; fruit X-section oblong or bluntly triangular
 
                          22. Keel 6.7–8 mm; fruit oblong in X-section, not fully 2-chambered, ± narrowed at sutures
A. monoensis
                          22' Keel 10–12.2 mm; fruit bluntly 3-sided in X-section, fully 2-chambered, not narrowed at sutures
A. sepultipes
              14' Lower stipules not fused around stem into sheath
 
                23. Flowers 1–4 per inflorescence, strongly ascending; corolla pink-purple; stems low, tufted or matted, softly gray-hairy
A. argophyllus var. argophyllus
                23' Flowers generally > 4 per inflorescence, strongly ascending to reflexed; corolla ± purple to white; stems low or not, tufted or not, rarely matted, ± glabrous to strigose or spreading-hairy
 
                  24. Fruit 1-chambered at mid-section, stalk-like base 0 to > 3 mm
 
                    25. Ovary, fruit glabrous; fruit bladdery, widely ovoid, base stalk-like
A. oophorous vars.
                    25' Ovary, fruit ± hairy; fruit bladdery or only swollen, ovoid or incurved, base stalk-like or not
 
                      26. Stalk-like fruit base 2–5 mm; corolla pink-purple
A. inyoensis
                      26' Fruit sessile; corolla white to purple
 
                        27. Keel 3–5 mm; fruit 10–20 mm, bladdery
2 A. pulsiferae vars.
                        27' Keel 8–14 mm; fruit 12–55 mm, swollen but not bladdery
 
                          28. Stem ascending or erect, wiry; leaflets > 4 × longer than wide, spaces between >> width; keel > 10 mm
A. casei
                          28' Stem ± prostrate to decumbent, ± mat-forming; leaflets < 2.5 × longer than wide, spaces between ± = or < width; keel < 10 mm
 
                            29. Banner 10–15.5 mm; herbage, fruit hairs stiff, straight, appressed, < 0.7 mm
A. iodanthus var. iodanthus
                            29' Banner 9–10 mm; herbage, fruit hairs soft, wavy, spreading, ± 1 mm
2 A. pseudiodanthus
                  24' Fruit ± 2-chambered at mid-section, stalk-like base 0 or < 3 mm
 
                    30. Banner 4.8–6.1 mm; peduncles often in 2's or 3's in upper axils
A. lemmonii
                    30' Banner > 7 mm; peduncles generally in 1's in upper axils
 
                      31. Stipules 7–17 mm, whitish or straw-colored; fruit, herbage hairs ± 1.5–2.5 mm, spreading
A. malacus
                      31' Stipules < 6 mm, often greenish; fruit, herbage hairs 0 or generally < 1.5 mm, ± appressed
 
                        32. Flowers, fruits in ovoid, head-like racemes, strongly ascending; herbage sparsely hairy or ± glabrous
2 A. agrestis
                        32' Flowers, fruits not in head-like racemes, generally spreading or reflexed; herbage ± glabrous to densely hairy
 
                          33. Fruit erect, < 4 mm wide, straight, ± bluntly 3-sided, beak slender, ± tooth-like
A. obscurus
                          33' Fruit spreading or reflexed, generally > 4 mm wide, straight to curved, sides rounded, beak ± triangular
 
                            34. Crown below surface; fruit curved at least 1/2 circle, wider than deep
2 A. pseudiodanthus
                            34' Crown at surface; fruit at most slightly curved, generally ± as deep as wide
A. lentiginosus vars.


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