Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - May 14, 2013
From: Terlingua, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identity of an Astragalus species near Terlingua, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have been photographing as many of the wildflowers that I can this Spring 2013 season here in the Big Bend Area between BBNP, Terlingua and Alpine, TX. Two days ago I took a drive from Terlingua to Alpine and needless to say there was so many wildflowers that I did not have the time to take shots of them all. Most of them can be ID'd. However, I found one I've never seen before. I've narrowed it down to Astragalus but the actual species is a question mark. It appears as the same as the photo in your database, Astragalus thurberi. And again, however, your database says that the natural area is AZ and NM. I found the specimen on the stretch of Hwy 118 between what we locals refer to as "Trashcan Hill" (a knoll of Hwy 118 with pull off and a trashcan on each side) and the juncture of Hwy 118 and Terlingua Ranch Main Road. Along side of the Astragalus thurberi were the Tansy Aster/Desert Aster(?), Nodding Thistle, and Gyp Indian Blanket. All within a few feet of one another.ANSWER:
Astragalus thurberi (Thurber's milkvetch) distribution, according to the USDA Plants Database, is a long way from Brewster County, Texas so I doubt that this is the identity of your plant. You can see in the New Mexico county distribution map from the USDA Plants Database that it occurs in the southwest corner of New Mexico.
Below are the species of Astragalus that have been reported for Brewster County by the USDA Plants Database:
Astragalus allochrous (halfmoon milkvetch) and Astragalus allochrous var. playanus (halfmoon milkvetch) Here are more photos and more information from Southwest Environmental Information Network.
Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum milkvetch) Here are more photos and information from Plants for a Future.
Astragalus crassicarpus var. crassicarpus (Groundplum milkvetch) Here are photos and information from Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium at the University of Wisconsin.
Astragalus emoryanus (Emory's milkvetch)
Astragalus emoryanus var. terlinguensis (Emory's milkvetch)
Astragalus humistratus (Groundcover milkvetch) and Astragalus humistratus var. humistratus (Groundcover milkvetch)
Here are photos and more information from Southwest Environmental Information Network, Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness and from CalPhotos.
Astragalus lotiflorus (Lotus milkvetch) Here are more photos and information from Kansas Wildflowers & Grasses.
Astragalus missouriensis (Missouri milkvetch) Here are more photos and information from USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Astragalus missouriensis var. missouriensis (Missouri milkvetch)
Astragalus mollissimus (Purple locoweed) Here are more photos and information from Southwest Colorado Wildflowers
Astragalus molissimus var. earlei (Purple locoweed)
Astragalus nuttallianus (Nuttall's milkvetch) Here are more photos and information from Southwest Colorado Flowers.
Astragalus nuttallianus var. austrinus (Nuttall's milkvetch)
Astragalus wrightii (Wright's milkvetch) Sorry, but there were no photos of this species on the internet that I could find. Consulting Correll & Johnston "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" I found this information: "petals reddish-violet, lilac, or whitish faintly lilac-tinged."
The different species of Astragalus are difficult to tell apart and the seed pod is often the determining factor instead of the flowers. You really need the plant in hand and a good key such as Correll & Johnston (see above) to do this.
Best of luck with your quest and your photographs of the areas wildflowers.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification of shrub with thorns and purple flowers
July 05, 2011 - I have a small tree or shrub, it has very small or thin thorns on the branches. It blooms in April / May. The flowers are purple. My mother-in-law said that it has been around for over 100 years, b...
view the full question and answer
Difference between Styrax platanifolius and Styrax patanifolius ssp. texanus
November 18, 2011 - What is the difference between a Styrax platanifolius and a Styrax platanifolius texanus?
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant in Illinois
August 13, 2007 - I've found a plant that I cannot identify. The plant is is very short, 2 inches tall maybe, and has very fragile, thin leaves and stem. The leaves about 1" long, are pinnate, with about 20 leaflets ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 24, 2010 - I was wondering if you could help me identify a plant in the carrot family that has invaded a portion of my property that I fear may be toxic. It looks most like the water hemlock plant (leaf-wise, ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of Verbesina occidentalis (Yellow crownbeard) in Burnet County TX
November 23, 2015 - Looked up (small) yellow crownbeard..yellow, no description or pic. Csn you tell me if this is what is in this pic? THX!
Can't insert a pic to say y/n. 😟it's in Burnet, Co..SE of Marble Fal...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |