Astragalus crotalariae is a bushy perennial herb growing to heights between 15 and 60 centimeters. It is roughly hairy and has an unpleasant scent. The leaves are up to 16 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of thick oval-shaped to rounded leaflets. The open
inflorescence bears up to 25 reddish purple flowers, each 2 to 3 centimeters long. The fruit is an inflated
legume pod up to 3 centimeters long. It is usually roughly hairy and dries to a thick papery texture.
Selenium Like many other
Astragalus species, this plant accumulates
selenium from the soil. It has also been shown to harbor a selenium-metabolizing
Bacillus species in its seed pods. ==References==