Peirson's Milk-vetch

Astragalus magdalenae peirsonii

Status	Threatened
Listed	October 6, 1998
Family	Leguminosae (Fabaceae)
Description	Stout, short-lived perennial with stems covered with fine silky hairs and dull-purple files.
Habitat	Sonoran Desert on the slopes and hollows of windblown dunes.
Threats	Off-highway vehicle use; recreational development.
Range	California; Mexico

Description

Peirson's milk-vetch (Astragalus magdalenae peirsonii ) is a stout, short-lived perennial reaching 8-27 in (20.3-65.6 cm) in height. The stems and leaves are covered with fine silky hairs, and the leaves are 2-6 in (5-15.2 cm) long, with 3-13 small oblong leaflets. The dull-purple flowers are arranged in 10-to 17-flowered racemes; the resulting pods are 0.8-1.4 in (2-3.6 cm) long, …