Astragalus douglasii is a bushy perennial herb producing a number of erect or prostrate stems up to a meter long. The abundant leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets. The open
inflorescence holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long. The calyx is green with lobes. The fruit is an inflated
legume pod up to 6 centimeters long and 3 wide which dries to a thin, papery texture.
Varieties There are three varieties of
Astragalus douglasii: •
A. d. var.
douglasii – limited to California •
A. d. var.
parishii ('''Parish's milkvetch''') – found throughout the mountain ranges of
Southern California •
A. d. var.
perstrictus (
Jacumba milkvetch) – rare variety limited to
San Diego County, California, and northern Baja California ==References==