# Woolly Locoweed (*Astragalus mollissimus*) Woolly Locoweed is a soft, fuzzy plant that grows in the wild. It has beautiful purple flowers and is often found in grassy areas. This plant is special because it can survive in tough places where other plants might not grow. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Woolly Locoweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/ArchesNationalPark-Plante2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ArchesNationalPark-Plante2.jpg) ## Appearance The Woolly Locoweed has distinct silvery-green, fuzzy leaves that form a low-growing clump. Its vibrant purple or magenta pea-like flowers bloom on stalks, creating a striking contrast against its woolly foliage, making it stand out in dry landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Astragalus ## Interesting facts - Its name 'locoweed' comes from 'loco,' meaning crazy in Spanish, because animals act strangely after eating it! - Some Native American tribes traditionally used parts of the plant for ceremonial purposes, despite its toxicity. - The seeds can lie hidden in the soil for decades, waiting for just the right time to sprout! - Woolly Locoweed works with tiny soil bacteria to help enrich the dirt with nitrogen, a vital plant nutrient! ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** Woolly Locoweed has a deep taproot to find water far below ground, helping it survive in very dry places. - **Sunscreen Sweater:** Its fuzzy, woolly leaves reflect harsh sunlight and trap moisture, keeping the plant cool and hydrated in hot climates. - **Chemical Shield:** Woolly Locoweed can produce toxic compounds that protect it from being eaten by most grazing animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Symbiotic with:** Nodule Bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — lives in roots, fixes nitrogen - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-horse) (*Equus caballus*) — grazing can cause locoism ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [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. - [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:** 3/5 · Moderate Don't touch or eat plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Woolly 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 Woolly Locoweed? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Woolly Locoweed spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Woolly Locoweed? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does Woolly Locoweed bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is Woolly Locoweed edible? No ### Is Woolly Locoweed toxic? High ### What is Woolly Locoweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Chaco Culture National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chaco-culture-national-historical-park) — New Mexico, US · National Park - [Crow Canyon Archaeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crow-canyon-archaeological-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Painted Desert Community Complex Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/painted-desert-community-complex-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saddlehorn-utility-area-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see Woolly Locoweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/woolly-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: [Woolly Locoweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woolly-locoweed)