Astragalus americanus
(Hook.) M. E. Jones
American milkvetch
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Matthias Buck, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthias Buck
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Matthias Buck, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthias Buck
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Matthias Buck, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthias Buck
Description
A herb. It grows 30-100 cm tall. The stems are thick at the base and do not have hairs. The leaves are alternate and divided into 9-17 leaflets. These are 2-5 cm long by 7-15 mm wide. The flowers are in groups of 15-40 in loose groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a slender pod 2-3 cm long.
Edible Uses
The roots are edible.
Traditional Uses
Caution: It is poisonous so should not be eaten in large quantities.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Known Hazards
Poisonous and should not be eaten in large quantities.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist meadows between 800-1,600 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Alaska, Canada, North America, USA,
Notes
There are 2,000 Astragalus species.
Synonyms
References (2)
- Contr. W. Bot. 8:8. 1898
- Etkin, N.L. (Ed.), 1994, Eating on the Wild Side, Univ. of Arizona. p 69
