Alpine Milkvetch
Astragalus alpinus
Pea family (Fabaceae)
The Astragalus is one of the largest in North America with more than 500 taxa. Astragalus expert Stanley Welsh indicates that A. alpinus "is perhaps the most widely distributed species of Astragalus in the world.... In much of North America it is the most common Astragalus.... But despite its enormous geographic range the degree of variation is relatively minor." Although Astragalus alpinus and its flowers are small, it is still easy to spot because it is often found in large colonies and there are numerous colorful flowers on each . Flowers range through shades of purple combined with white; they are very attractive. typically arch, have no tendrils, and are not present on the flower . Because the plant spreads across large areas and because it is quite low in stature, it can easily be confused with a plant of an entirely different family: Serpentine Veronica (Veronica serpyllifolia). Linnaeus named A. alpina in 1753 from a specimen he collected in Lapland in 1732.
©2011 Matt Lavin
