
When a patch of purple caught my eye among the sagebrushes, I couldn't help but run over to it, my heart pounding fast. Sure enough, it was a new plant for the year, my first sighting of it. I recognized it as a milkvetch and took out my key. Then I groaned. There are 26 milkvetches in this area. I did my best to key it out and match it with photos, and I'm fairly certain this is Newberry's Milkvetch (
Astragalus newberryi), in the Pea Family, Fabaceae.

It was growing near a sagebrush on gravelly soil.

The leaves and calyx are hairy.
Some Astragalus species are used for medicinal purposes. Others are called locoweed--so before you try any, you should be an expert at identifying them.

To learn a little more (not much), click
here.
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