Astragalus Cicer, Chickpea Milkvetch

Astragalus cicer is one of the few non-native species of this large genus in the US, found mostly in the Rocky Mountain states. All petals are colored pale yellow, becoming white towards the tip. The banner petal is almost straight, and up to half an inch long, while the keel petal is around a third of an inch, and the wing petals slightly shorter. The light green calyx is covered by short hairs, light or dark in color. The calyx lobes are short, around a third as long as the fused part. Fruits are short, inflated, two-chambered pods, almost round in shape, colored green or reddish, and covered by slivery hairs. The fruits form a tight cluster, with the dried petals in between.

Stems may be ascending or prostrate, glabrous or lightly covered with short, stiff hairs. Leaflets may also have a sparse hair covering. Leaflet tips are pointed. Stems are topped with a compact, elongated cluster of between 6 and 30 flowers, which have ascending pedicels.