Angiosperms: Dicotyledons

Fabaceae
Legume Family

• Notes:

  Astragalus agrestis is much smaller than A. crassicarpus, about 6” tall and branching with hairy stems. The leaves are similar. In the inflorescence the racemes are shorter (1” long). The flowers are slightly larger, and the fruits are smaller, with elongate pods (3/8” by 1/8”) covered with long, white hairs. Flowering is from mid-May to mid-June, and fruiting begins in late May. A. agrestis is very uncommon on dry prairies.

  Some authorities recognize a second species, A. goniatus Nutt, on the basis of larger size, larger flowers, later flowering, and less hairy pods.

• Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Vascular Plants of Iowa