Astragalus canadensis - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Fabaceae
Habitat
Dry, often sandy, prairies in northern IL. In moist soil throughout the rest of its range; open woods, river banks, shores.
Associates
Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon scoparius, Aster laevis, Euphorbia corollata, Phlox pilosa, Sorghastrum nutans, Stipa spartea.
Distribution
Most of the continental U.S. and southern Canada. Also occurs in Siberia.
Morphology
Rhizomatous perennial to 1.5 m. Leaves pinnate compound; leaflets 15-35, oblong or elliptic, 1-4 cm long. Flowers in long-peduncled racemes; flowers white, 12-17 mm. Fruits numorous; bilocular pod, erect, 10-15 mm, subterete with the ventral suture keeled.
Notes
Flowers June to October
Wetland Indicator: Facultative throughout most of its range, but Upland in the Chicago region.
Despite the wide range of this species, it seems to be rather rare in many areas.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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© Michael Hough 2004 |