Flora of North America species comparison

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Astragalus nuttallianus var. macilentus

Astragalus nuttallianus
Photo is of parent taxon

small milkvetch, turkeypeas

Nuttall locoweed, small-flower milkvetch, turkeypeas
Habit Plants strigose-pilosulous, hairs to 0.8 mm. Plants annual or winter-annual, usually slender, (1–)2–30(–45) cm, strigose, strigulose, pilosulous, or hirsutulous, hairs basifixed; taproot slender.
Stems

8–30(–38) cm.

rarely more than 15, erect, ascending, prostrate, or decumbent, glabrate, sparsely strigulose, villosulous, or pilose.
Leaves

(1.5–)2–9.5 cm;

leaflets 7–23, blades sometimes dimorphic, distal ones more narrow, linear-elliptic, oblong-oblanceolate, broadly elliptic, or obovate, apex acute or truncate-emarginate.

1–6.5(–9.5) cm;

stipules (1–)1.5–6(–9) mm, papery at proximal nodes, herbaceous at distal nodes;

leaflets (5 or)7–19(–23), blades linear-elliptic and linear-oblong to obovate, 2–14(–17) mm, apex acute to emarginate, surfaces pubescent abaxially, glabrous or pubescent adaxially.
Racemes

(2 or)3–27-flowered;

axis to (0.5–)1–3 cm in fruit.

(1 or)2–10(–27)-flowered, flowers ascending to declined;

axis 0–2(–)3 cm in fruit;

bracts 0.5–2.5 mm;

bracteoles 0 or 1.
Peduncles

2.5–9 cm.

erect or incurved-ascending, (0.2–)0.5–9(–10) cm.
Pedicels

0.4–1.6 mm.
Flowers

calyx 3.4–5.6 mm, loosely sparsely strigulose-pilosulous, tube 2–3.1 mm, lobes 1.1–3 mm;

corolla banner (6.4–)8.5–13 mm;

keel apex obtusely rounded.

3.7–13 mm;

calyx (1.7–)3–5.6(–5.7) mm, strigulose, hirsutulous, or pilose, tube (1–)1.3–3.1 mm, lobes linear-setaceous to narrowly lanceolate, (0.7–)1–3.2 mm;

corolla whitish, lilac, or pink-purple;

banner recurved through 40–45°;

keel 3.7–6.8(–9.3) mm, apex obtusely round to sharply deltate, beaklike or not.
Styles

glabrous.
Legumes

(10–)13–25 × 1.8–2.7 mm, glabrous;

substipitate.

ascending, spreading, or declined, green or purple-tinged becoming stramineous or brownish then black, ± straight or incurved through 0.3–0.5 spiral, linear or linear-oblanceoloid, 3-sided compressed, dehiscent on plant, (7–)10–26 × (1.6–)2.1–3.5 mm, usually bilocular, rarely ± unilocular, thin becoming papery, glabrous, strigulose, or villosulous, hairs straight;

stipe (0–)0.5–0.9 mm.
Seeds

12–22.

10–22.

Astragalus nuttallianus var. macilentus

Astragalus nuttallianus
Phenology Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat Dry gravelly or rocky sites, disturbed soils.
Elevation 200–1400 m. (700–4600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
TX
[BONAP county map]
from USDA
w United States; n Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Variety macilentus occurs from south-central Texas to the western tip of the state. Species level recognition may be justified because of its elongating inflorescences, substipitate fruits, obtuse keels, and absence of intergradation with sympatric Astragalus nuttallianus (D. Isely 1998). It is easily confused with A. emoryanus in flower, which is distinguished by its sessile and deciduous fruits.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Varieties 9 (9 in the flora).

The Astragalus nuttallianus complex is a series of forms found in a wide region of the southwestern and south-central United States and adjacent Mexico. There are two groups discernable: a western phalanx wherein varietal differentiation is apparently ecologically and geographically controlled, and there is intergradation where one form meets another; and the central and eastern Texas group where several varieties are sympatric, but apparently do not form intermediates. Astragalus nuttallianus is often confused with A. emoryanus (see discussion under 316. A. emoryanus).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Leaflet blade apex often retuse or truncate-emarginate, sometimes acute.
→ 2
2. Herbage hirsutulous; legumes loosely strig­ulose; banners (4–)4.9–6.7 mm; s Texas.
var. zapatanus
2. Herbage sparsely strigulose or strigose-pilosulous; legumes glabrous; banners (4.3–)4.8–13 mm; Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.
→ 3
3. Banners (4.3–)4.8–7.3 mm, keel apex triangular-acute or sharply deltate; raceme axis to 0.8(–1) cm in fruit; Oklahoma to sc, e Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama.
var. nuttallianus
3. Banners (6.4–)8.5–13 mm, keel apex obtusely rounded; raceme axis to (0.5–)1–3 cm in fruit; c, w Texas.
var. macilentus
1. Leaflet blade apex acute, obtuse, round, retuse, or emarginate, usually not retuse or truncate-emarginate for all leaflets.
→ 4
4. Keel apex obtusely rounded; raceme axis (0–)0.5–3 cm in fruit; legumes usually glabrous, sometimes minutely strigulose; n Arizona, se Colorado, New Mexico, c, w Texas, and s Utah.
→ 5
5. Banners 6.3–7.6(–9.2) mm; Four Corners area.
var. micranthiformis
5. Banners (6.4–)8.5–13 mm; c, w Texas.
var. macilentus
4. Keel apex sharply deltate or triangular-acute or -subacute, sometimes beaklike; raceme axis (0–)0.2–1(–2) cm in fruit; legumes glabrous, strigulose, or hirsutulous; Arizona, California, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah.
→ 6
6. Calyces strigulose or hirsutulous, lobes (0.7–)1–1.7(–2) mm; s, c Arizona to Utah, se California, s Nevada.
→ 7
7. Leaflets monomorphic, blades elliptic throughout; calyx tube 1.9–2.8 mm; e Mojave Desert, California, to Utah and w, c Arizona, s Nevada.
var. imperfectus
7. Leaflets dimorphic, blades of proximal leaves cuneate or obcordate, blades of distal leaves linear-elliptic; calyx tube (1–)1.4–1.7 mm; sw Colorado Desert, California, to s Arizona.
var. cedrosensis
6. Calyces hirsute, hirsutulous, or pilose, lobes 1.8–2.1(–3.1) mm; Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.
→ 8
8. Banners 7–9(–9.5) mm; racemes 4–9(–12)-flowered; legumes glabrous; Cameron Parish, Louisiana, e Texas, from Red River to Edwards Plateau and Sabine River.
var. pleianthus
8. Banners (4–)5–7 mm; racemes (1 or)2–6(–8)-flowered; legumes glabrous, strigulose, or hirsutulous; s Kansas to s Texas, westward to s California.
→ 9
9. Legumes hirsutulous; leaflets 11 or 13; e, s Texas, mostly on Coastal Plain, and w Oklahoma to sw New Mexico.
var. trichocarpus
9. Legumes glabrous or strigulose; leaflets 7–11(–17); s Kansas to s Texas, westward to s California.
var. austrinus
Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Astragalus > sect. Leptocarpi > Astragalus nuttallianus Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Astragalus > sect. Leptocarpi
Sibling taxa
A. nuttallianus var. austrinus, A. nuttallianus var. cedrosensis, A. nuttallianus var. imperfectus, A. nuttallianus var. micranthiformis, A. nuttallianus var. nuttallianus, A. nuttallianus var. pleianthus, A. nuttallianus var. trichocarpus, A. nuttallianus var. zapatanus
A. accidens, A. accumbens, A. ackermanii, A. acutirostris, A. adanus, A. aequalis, A. agnicidus, A. agrestis, A. albens, A. albulus, A. allochrous, A. alpinus, A. altus, A. alvordensis, A. amblytropis, A. americanus, A. amnis-amissi, A. amphioxys, A. ampullarioides, A. ampullarius, A. andersonii, A. anisus, A. anserinus, A. applegatei, A. aquilonius, A. aretioides, A. argophyllus, A. aridus, A. arizonicus, A. arrectus, A. arthurii, A. asclepiadoides, A. asotinensis, A. asymmetricus, A. atratus, A. atropubescens, A. atwoodii, A. austiniae, A. australis, A. barnebyi, A. barrii, A. beathii, A. beatleyae, A. beckwithii, A. bernardinus, A. bibullatus, A. bicristatus, A. bisulcatus, A. bodinii, A. bolanderi, A. bourgovii, A. brandegeei, A. brauntonii, A. brazoensis, A. breweri, A. californicus, A. callithrix, A. calycosus, A. camptopus, A. canadensis, A. caricinus, A. casei, A. castaneiformis, A. castetteri, A. ceramicus, A. cerussatus, A. chamaeleuce, A. chamaemeniscus, A. chinensis, A. chloödes, A. chuskanus, A. cibarius, A. cicer, A. cimae, A. claranus, A. clevelandii, A. cliffordii, A. cobrensis, A. coccineus, A. collinus, A. coltonii, A. columbianus, A. concordius, A. congdonii, A. conjunctus, A. consobrinus, A. contortuplicatus, A. convallarius, A. cottamii, A. crassicarpus, A. cremnophylax, A. cronquistii, A. crotalariae, A. curtipes, A. curvicarpus, A. cusickii, A. cutleri, A. cyaneus, A. cymboides, A. deanei, A. debequaeus, A. desereticus, A. desperatus, A. deterior, A. detritalis, A. diaphanus, A. didymocarpus, A. distortus, A. diversifolius, A. douglasii, A. drabelliformis, A. drummondii, A. duchesnensis, A. eastwoodiae, A. egglestonii, A. emoryanus, A. endopterus, A. ensiformis, A. episcopus, A. equisolensis, A. eremiticus, A. ertterae, A. eucosmus, A. eurekensis, A. eurylobus, A. falcatus, A. feensis, A. filipes, A. flavus, A. flexuosus, A. fucatus, A. funereus, A. gambelianus, A. geyeri, A. gibbsii, A. giganteus, A. gilensis, A. gilmanii, A. gilviflorus, A. glycyphyllos, A. gracilis, A. grayi, A. gypsodes, A. hallii, A. hamiltonii, A. harrisonii, A. heilii, A. henrimontanensis, A. holmgreniorum, A. hoodianus, A. hornii, A. howellii, A. humillimus, A. humistratus, A. hyalinus, A. hypoxylus, A. inflexus, A. insularis, A. inversus, A. inyoensis, A. iodanthus, A. iodopetalus, A. iselyi, A. jaegerianus, A. jejunus, A. johannis-howellii, A. kelseyae, A. kentrophyta, A. kerrii, A. knightii, A. laccoliticus, A. lancearius, A. laxmannii, A. layneae, A. leibergii, A. lemmonii, A. lentiformis, A. lentiginosus, A. leptaleus, A. leptocarpus, A. leucolobus, A. limnocharis, A. lindheimeri, A. linifolius, A. loanus, A. lonchocarpus, A. lotiflorus, A. lutosus, A. lyallii, A. macrodon, A. magdalenae, A. malacoides, A. malacus, A. megacarpus, A. michauxii, A. microcymbus, A. microcystis, A. microlobium, A. micromerius, A. miguelensis, A. minthorniae, A. misellus, A. miser, A. missouriensis, A. moencoppensis, A. mohavensis, A. mollissimus, A. molybdenus, A. monoensis, A. montii, A. monumentalis, A. mulfordiae, A. multiflorus, A. musiniensis, A. naturitensis, A. neglectus, A. nelsonianus, A. neomexicanus, A. nevinii, A. newberryi, A. nidularius, A. nothoxys, A. nudisiliquus, A. nutans, A. nutriosensis, A. nuttallii, A. nutzotinensis, A. nyensis, A. obcordatus, A. obscurus, A. oniciformis, A. oocalycis, A. oocarpus, A. oophorus, A. oreganus, A. osterhoutii, A. oxyphysus, A. pachypus, A. palmeri, A. panamintensis, A. pardalinus, A. parryi, A. pattersonii, A. pauperculus, A. paysonii, A. peckii, A. pectinatus, A. perianus, A. phoenix, A. pictiformis, A. pinonis, A. piscator, A. piutensis, A. plattensis, A. platytropis, A. polaris, A. pomonensis, A. porrectus, A. praelongus, A. preussii, A. proimanthus, A. proximus, A. pseudiodanthus, A. pterocarpus, A. pubentissimus, A. pulsiferae, A. puniceus, A. purshii, A. pycnostachyus, A. racemosus, A. rafaelensis, A. rattanii, A. ravenii, A. recurvus, A. reflexus, A. remotus, A. reventiformis, A. reventus, A. riparius, A. ripleyi, A. robbinsii, A. rusbyi, A. sabulonum, A. sabulosus, A. salmonis, A. saurinus, A. scaphoides, A. schmolliae, A. sclerocarpus, A. scopulorum, A. sepultipes, A. serenoi, A. sericoleucus, A. serpens, A. sesquiflorus, A. sheldonii, A. shevockii, A. shortianus, A. siliceus, A. simplicifolius, A. sinuatus, A. solitarius, A. sophoroides, A. soxmaniorum, A. spaldingii, A. sparsiflorus, A. spatulatus, A. speirocarpus, A. straturensis, A. striatiflorus, A. subcinereus, A. subvestitus, A. succumbens, A. tegetarioides, A. tener, A. tennesseensis, A. tephrodes, A. terminalis, A. tetrapterus, A. thurberi, A. tibetanus, A. tidestromii, A. tiehmii, A. titanophilus, A. toanus, A. toquimanus, A. tortipes, A. traskiae, A. tricarinatus, A. trichopodus, A. tridactylicus, A. troglodytus, A. tweedyi, A. tyghensis, A. umbellatus, A. umbraticus, A. uncialis, A. utahensis, A. vaccarum, A. vallaris, A. vexilliflexus, A. villosus, A. wardii, A. waterfallii, A. webberi, A. welshii, A. wetherillii, A. whitneyi, A. williamsii, A. wingatanus, A. wittmannii, A. woodruffii, A. wootonii, A. wrightii, A. xiphoides, A. yoderwilliamsii, A. zionis
Subordinate taxa
A. nuttallianus var. austrinus, A. nuttallianus var. cedrosensis, A. nuttallianus var. imperfectus, A. nuttallianus var. macilentus, A. nuttallianus var. micranthiformis, A. nuttallianus var. nuttallianus, A. nuttallianus var. pleianthus, A. nuttallianus var. trichocarpus, A. nuttallianus var. zapatanus
Synonyms Hamosa macilenta, A. macilentus A. micranthus
Name authority (Small) Barneby: Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 13: 1065. (1964) de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle: Prodr. 2: 289. (1825)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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