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Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii

Astragalus cusickii A. Gray var. cusickii

Cusick's Milkvetch

Fabaceae (Pea family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ASCUC2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

"The typical variety of the Cusick milk-vetch is a handsome astragalus at all stages of growth, the mature plants forming large clumps of erect and ascending, sparely leafy (or at first sight apparently leafless) stems which bear aloft a mass of ochroleucous or almost clear white flowers; these are followed by the pendulous, transparent bladders of the fruit. ." (bibref: 1813).

"At early anthesis some phases greatly resemble the more junceous forms of A. filipes, but such as are most likely to be confused with A. cusickii may be distinguished by the pubescent ovary. Except for a small area along the lower Malheur River and Sucker Creek in Malheur County, Oregon, the two species occupy mutually exclusive ranges." (bibref: 1813).

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: "Stems several or numerous, erect and ascending in bushy clumps, rarely diffuse or pendulous from cliff- ledges, 3-7 dm. long." (bibref: 1813).
Leaf: "Stipules at base of the stems evidently connate, the sheath ruptured only in age, the median and upper ones usually united by a stipular line, only the uppermost free." (bibref: 1813).
Flower: "Calyx-tube 4.4-5.8 mm. long, 3-4 mm. in diameter, the disc 1-1.5 mm. deep; petals white or creamy-white, concolorous; banner rhombic-elliptic, mostly 14-15.5 mm. long; keel 9.7-11 mm. long." (bibref: 1813).
Fruit: "Stipe of the pod 3-5 (6) mm. long, the body (2) 2.5-4.8 cm. long, the papery-membranous valves not mottled, turning stramineous when ripe; ovules 10-20." (bibref: 1813).

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: "Petals white or creamy-white, concolorous." (bibref: 1813).

Distribution

USA: ID , OR , WA
Native Distribution: "Locally abundant and not uncommon along the Snake River and streams affluent from the west, from lower Sucker Creek, Malheur County, Oregon, downstream to the mouth of the Grande Ronde River, Asotin County, Washingto." (bibref: 1813).
Native Habitat: "Steep rocky and gravelly clay slopes and canyon terraces, sometimes hanging out from ledges or crevices of basalt cliffs, 1600-3000 feet." (bibref: 1813).

Bibliography

Bibref 1813 - Atlas of North American Astragalus (1964) Barneby, Rupert C.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2020-12-07
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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