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Timber Milkvetch
ExplorePlants
Timber Milkvetch
Astragalus miser
Timber Milkvetch is a special plant that grows in dry places. It has pretty flowers and is great for helping the soil stay healthy.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Timber Milkvetch is a low-growing plant with slender stems and clusters of small, pea-like flowers. Its blossoms range from purplish-pink to cream or white, often appearing in dense racemes. The leaves are grayish-green and covered in fine hairs, distinguishing it from other meadow plants.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusAstragalus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Despite its toxicity to animals, some tiny insects are specially adapted to safely eat this plant.
It's called 'milkvetch' because people once wrongly believed it made cows produce more milk!
Some of its seed pods are so hairy, they look like tiny fuzzy caterpillars hanging from the stem!
This plant is often called a 'locoweed' because it can make animals act dizzy or 'loco'.
Special abilities
Ability
Secret Weapon
Timber Milkvetch can produce powerful toxins that protect it from being eaten by many grazing animals.
Ability
Soil Power-Up
Timber Milkvetch can pull nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil, helping itself and other plants grow.
Ability
Drought Buster
Timber Milkvetch has deep roots and hairy leaves that help it survive and thrive in dry, rocky conditions.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-50 cm
- Spread
- 15-40 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late_spring_to_mid_summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Western Bumblebee
Bombus occidentalis
Main pollinator visiting its flowers
symbiotic with
Rhizobium bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Forms nodules on roots to fix nitrogen
eaten by
Cattle
Bos taurus
Ingesting plant causes 'locoism' toxicity
eaten by
Sheep
Ovis aries
Eating the plant can lead to neurological issues
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Timber Milkvetch?
10-50 cm
How wide does Timber Milkvetch spread?
15-40 cm
How big are the flowers on Timber Milkvetch?
0.5-1.5 cm
When does Timber Milkvetch bloom?
Late_spring_to_mid_summer
Is Timber Milkvetch edible?
No
Is Timber Milkvetch toxic?
High
What is Timber Milkvetch's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Timber Milkvetch pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park47 sightings7 species
British Columbia, CA
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area
You might spot Bitterroot, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, and Western Stoneseed.
View guide →
Park20 sightings4 species
British Columbia, CA
Stemwinder Provincial Park
You might spot Field Locoweed, Silky Lupine, and Wax Currant.
View guide →
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Park3 sightings2 species
British Columbia, CA
Allison Lake Provincial Park
You might spot Oregon Grape, Heartleaf Arnica, and Solomon's Plume.
View guide →
