Native Plants

Plant Database

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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Astragalus crassicarpus

Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt.

Groundplum Milkvetch, Ground Plum

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ascr2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Crassicarpus means "thick fruit".

From the Image Gallery

12 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: Stems decumbent to ascending, up to about 2 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , CO , IA , IL , KS , LA , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WI , WY
Canada: AB , MB , SK
Native Habitat: Prairie, Meadow, Field

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist

Benefit

Use Food: Immature pods used raw, cooked or pickled. Caution: some species are poisonus.
Warning: Plant poisonous
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Afranius Duskywing (Erynnis afranius)

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Afranius Duskywing
(Erynnis afranius)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0184 Collected Feb 17, 1992 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps
NPSOT 0067 Collected May 24, 1990 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps

2 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-646 Collected 2004-06-15 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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