# Bent-flower Milkvetch (*Astragalus vexilliflexus*) The Bent-flower Milkvetch is a special flower that has unique bent petals. It grows in the wild and adds beauty to its surroundings with its lovely colors. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Bent-flower Milkvetch](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oxytropis_lagopus_-_hare's-foot_locoweed_-_48387174841.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxytropis_lagopus_-_hare's-foot_locoweed_-_48387174841.jpg) ## Appearance The Bent-flower Milkvetch is a low-growing plant with distinct small, purplish-pink flowers where the top petal sharply bends backward. Its leaves are feather-like, composed of many tiny leaflets, creating a delicate appearance. It often forms a sprawling mat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Astragalus ## Interesting facts - It's a tiny member of the pea family, but you won't find yummy peas here! - Its ancient name, "Astragalus," might refer to its seed pods looking like ankle bones! - Some relatives of this plant can help sheep grow stronger wool! - This plant's "bent flower" shape is like a secret sign for certain bugs! ## Special abilities - **Nitrogen Power:** Bent-flower Milkvetch can enrich soil by capturing nitrogen from the air, helping other plants grow. - **Drought Shield:** This plant has deep roots that let it survive in dry, sunny places where water is scarce. - **Seed Time Capsule:** Its seeds can wait hidden in the soil for many years until the perfect time to sprout. - **Pollinator Perch:** Bent-flower Milkvetch's uniquely bent petal provides a perfect landing spot for helpful insects. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring, Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its leaves and stems. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium Bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Lives in roots, fixing nitrogen for the plant. - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — Grazes on the plant in its habitat. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers, as some can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bent-flower Milkvetch? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Bent-flower Milkvetch? 5-30 cm ### How wide does Bent-flower Milkvetch spread? 10-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Bent-flower Milkvetch? 1-2 cm ### When does Bent-flower Milkvetch bloom? Spring, Summer ### Is Bent-flower Milkvetch edible? No ### Is Bent-flower Milkvetch toxic? None ### What is Bent-flower Milkvetch's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bent-flower Milkvetch: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bent-flower-milkvetch)