Astragalus. Astragalus cottamii Fabaceae Family ( Pea ) Astragalus. Also called: Astragalus monumentalis, Locoweed, Loco Weed, Milkvetch, or Milk Vetch. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. The Astragalus genus is very large and complex. World-wide there are about 1600 species. Hundreds of thes species are in the Western United States. There are over 100 species in Arizona. They are considered very hard to identify. In Arizona, we are often considered to be very lucky just to identify them as an Astragalus. It is the seed pod, not the flower, that is often crucial in the identification process. Poisonous species of Astragalus are known as locoweeds. Others are known as Milkvetch. Astragalus cottamii is a stout, erect perennial. Note: Astragalus cottamii, A. desperatus, A. monumentalis, and A. naturitensis are similar in their habitat, size, flower color, pod size, and scarcity. Quick Notes: Height: Up To 8" Tall. Flowers: Pink to purple, and the pods are curved and often purple and speckled, pealike, drooping to 7/8 inch long, in raceme to 3 inches long. They are followed by a red, inflated pod about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inch long. Flowering Time: May - August. Fruit: Green - gray, spineless fruit, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, 3/4 to 1 inches in diameter dry when ripe. Seeds 3/10 inches in diameter, rounded, smooth, and cream colored. Seeds: Seedpods 1 - 1 1/2" long, 3/8 - 1/2" in diameter; a cylindrical pod; short-pointed at ends, reddish; maturing in summer, remaining attached, often opening late; many elliptical flattened shiny brown; seeds. Leaves: Hairy gray-green to 6 inches long with 11 - 27 elliptical leaflets each about 1/2 inch long and slightly curved upward. Found: Native to Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado. Hardiness: USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 2,800 Feet - 6,500 Feet. Feet. Habitat: Found in selenium-rich clays, silts, and sandy soil of plains and desert. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken May 11, 2009. Between Camp Verde & Payson, Arizona. General "George" Crook Trail. Astragalus cottamii is said to be found only in the Four Corners area and it is listed as rare in both New Mexico and Arizona.

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