View source for Astragalus oocarpus

{{Short description|Species of legume}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Astragalus_oocarpus.jpg
|name = ''Astragalus oocarpus''
|taxon = Astragalus oocarpus
|authority = [[Asa Gray|A.Gray]]
| status = G2
| status_system = TNC
| status_ref = <ref  name="TNC status 15 may  2022">{{cite web | url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144274 | title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 }}</ref>
|}}

'''''Astragalus oocarpus''''' is a rare species of [[milk vetch|milkvetch]] known by the common names '''San Diego milkvetch''' and '''Descanso milkvetch'''.

It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to southern [[California]], where it is known only from the [[Peninsular Ranges]] of [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]]. Its range may extend north into [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]].<ref>[http://cnps.web.aplus.net/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi/Go?_id=astragalus_oocarpus&sort=DEFAULT&search=Astragalus%20oocarpus CNPS Rare Plants Inventory]</ref> It is a plant of the [[chaparral]] slopes and woodlands of the mountains.

==Description==
''Astragalus oocarpus'' is a perennial herb producing upright to erect hollow stems up to 1.3 meters tall. Leaves are up to 17 centimeters long and are made up of veiny lance-shaped leaflets each up to 3 centimeters in length. The stem and leaves are mostly hairless.

The [[inflorescence]] holds up to 75 cream-colored flowers, each between 1 and 2 centimeters in length. The fruit is an inflated [[legume]] pod 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long which dries to a stiff papery texture.

==See also==
*[[California chaparral and woodlands]]
**[[California montane chaparral and woodlands]]
*[[:Category:Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges|Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=14972 Jepson Manual Treatment — ''Astragalus oocarpus'']
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASOO2 USDA Plants Profile: Astragalus oocarpus]
*[http://sandiego.sierraclub.org/rareplants/020.html Sierra Club Rare Plants Profile - Astragalus oocarpus (c.1994)]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q4811274}}

[[Category:Astragalus|oocarpus]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of California]]
[[Category:Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands]]
[[Category:Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges]]
[[Category:Natural history of San Diego County, California]]
[[Category:Flora of Riverside County, California]]


{{Astragalus-stub}}