Astragalus magdalenae ( ) ( )

Fabaceae

Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii (Perison's milkvetch) ( )

• One of the rare endemic plants of the dune habitats is Peirson's milkvetch, a silvery, perennial member of the pea family. It grows as tall as 2.5 feet and is notable among the many milvetch species for its small leaves. The large seeds of Perison's milkvetch (larger than any other milkvetch) are thought to be an adaptation to life as a dune plant. Large seeds have the carbohydrate resource to germinate and emerge from under several inches of sand, It has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank 1B: rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."