Astragalus praelongus var. praelongus
Astragalus praelongus var. ellisiae
stinking milkvetch
Ellis' stinking milkvetch
15–24 mm;
calyx lobes deltate to lanceolate-subulate, 0.3–4.7 mm;
corolla ochroleucous, keel often faintly to definitely maculate.
15–24 mm;
calyx lobes subulate or lanceolate-attenuate, 2–5.5 mm;
corolla ochroleucous, keel often faintly to definitely maculate.
broadly oblong to ellipsoid, 20–38(–42) × (9–)10–15(–25) mm, glabrous or puberulent;
stipe obconic when present, 0–2.5 mm.
ellipsoid, oblong-ellipsoid, or narrowly clavate-ellipsoid, 1.8–34 × (5–)6–10(–11) mm, strigulose, glabrous, or puberulent along sutures;
stipe 1–2.5 mm.
distinct throughout.
distinct throughout.
= 22, 24.
= 24.
Astragalus praelongus var. praelongus
Astragalus praelongus var. ellisiae
An extreme phase of var. praelongus is present in Zion Canyon and vicinity, growing tall and with fistulous stems.
Variety praelongus is highly toxic but is seldom grazed by healthy animals except during drought. W. E. Fox et al. (1998) reported that plants also contained swainsonine. The Hopi reportedly used the plant, under the name siskinga, in treatment of bladder problems.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Variation in var. praelongus, primarily of fruit shape and texture, and its interpretation by past authors, was reviewed by R. C. Barneby (1964). The broadest, almost subspheroid fruits of the more western var. praelongus appear very different from the oblong ones of the more eastern var. ellisiae, but their form is regionally clinal. Therefore, D. Isely (1998) placed the latter into var. praelongus, which is not an illogical disposition.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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