About Astragalus nuttallii (Torr. & A.Gray) J.T.Howell
Astragalus nuttallii is a milkvetch species commonly known as Nuttall's milkvetch. It is native to California and Baja California, and grows in sandy soils of coastal habitat. This perennial herb grows into thick, tangled clumps of stems ranging from hairy to hairless, which can reach up to one meter in length. It produces abundant leaves that grow up to 17 centimeters long, each made up of many oval-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence is a large, dense cluster holding up to 125 flowers, each measuring around 1 to 1.5 centimeters in length. The flowers are dull cream-colored, and sometimes carry a purple tint. The fruit is an inflated legume pod that reaches up to 6 centimeters long; it dries to a papery texture and holds many seeds inside its single chamber. One variety of this species, the ocean bluff milkvetch (variety nuttallii), is endemic to the Central Coast of California.
