Astragalus flavus (yellow milkvetch) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]
It is an erect or curving perennial from 2inchesto12inchesin (toin) tall.[1] The plant is covered with star-shaped hairs.[1]
Patches of the plants in bloom may cover large areas of the ground in yellow from the flowers.[1] [2]
1inchesto6inchesin (toin) leaves are compound pinnate, with linear to egg shaped NaNinchesto6inchesin (toin) leaflets.[1]
The inflorescence is born on a stalk with 6-30 flowers having a hairy calyx tube and yellow bell-shaped corolla NaNinchestoNaNinchesin (toin) long.[1] "Flavus" means "yellow", even though most of its flowers are white.[3] It blooms from May to June.[1] [2]
It grows in saline soil (halophyte) in salt desert shrub between about 3800feetto5400feetft (toft) in elevation.[1]