# Lambert's Locoweed (*Oxytropis lambertii*) Lambert's Locoweed is a pretty plant with lovely purple flowers. It grows in the wild and is known for its unique look and special smell that attracts bees and butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Lambert's Locoweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oxytropis_lambertii.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxytropis_lambertii.jpg) ## Appearance The Lambert's Locoweed has showy spikes of pea-like flowers, typically vibrant purple, pink, or sometimes white. It forms dense clumps of silvery-green, hairy leaves that grow from a central base, standing out in arid landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Oxytropis ## Interesting facts - Eating too much of this plant can make animals wander in circles, acting totally confused! - It can grow in really tough, dry soils where most other plants would simply dry up and vanish. - Its vibrant, pea-like flowers can glow in shades from deep purple to soft pink and even pure white! - Tiny bacteria in its roots are like mini-chefs, cooking up nutrients for the plant from the air! ## Special abilities - **Root Resilience:** Lambert's Locoweed has a deep taproot that helps it find water far underground, allowing it to survive in dry, harsh environments. - **Toxin Shield:** Lambert's Locoweed can produce a powerful toxin called swainsonine, which helps it defend against grazing animals that try to eat its leaves. - **Nutrient Harvester:** This plant can work with special bacteria in its roots to pull nitrogen from the air, making its own food in poor soils. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Eating too much causes 'locoism'. - **Eaten by:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — Highly susceptible to its toxic effects. - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Visits its flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobia bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Fixes nitrogen in its root nodules. ## 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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Do not touch or eat any wild plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lambert's Locoweed? 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 Lambert's Locoweed? 10-50 cm ### How wide does Lambert's Locoweed spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Lambert's Locoweed? 1-2 cm ### When does Lambert's Locoweed bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Lambert's Locoweed edible? No ### Is Lambert's Locoweed toxic? High ### What is Lambert's Locoweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Leadville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leadville-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Denbigh Experimental Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/denbigh-experimental-forest) — North Dakota, US · Botanical Garden - [Fall River Entrance Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fall-river-entrance-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgetown-silver-plume-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Gold Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gold-hill) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Lambert's Locoweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lamberts-locoweed) ## 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: [Lambert's Locoweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lamberts-locoweed)