About Astragalus L.
Astragalus lentiginosus is most often a perennial herb, but can occasionally be an annual herb. Its leaves can grow up to 15 centimetres (5.9 inches) long and are divided into many pairs of small leaflets. The overall form of the plant ranges from prostrate to erect, and its texture ranges from quite woolly to nearly hairless. Its inflorescence can hold up to 50 pea-like flowers, which may be purplish, whitish, or a mix of both colors. A shared trait among most varieties is an inflated, beaked legume pod that has a groove along its side. When the pod dries, it gains a papery texture. It opens to release seeds starting from the beak. The species epithet lentiginosus refers to the red mottling that commonly appears on the pods, which resembles freckles. The bloom period of this species falls between March, April, and May. As a species, Astragalus lentiginosus is distributed across the Great Basin of North America, stretching west from the Rocky Mountains to the California Coast Ranges, south into Mexico, and north to British Columbia. Its varieties are largely limited to marginal habitats like disturbed sites in the arid regions of the North American continent. This group also includes a number of edaphic specialists that grow at desert seeps, which frequently have high levels of calcium carbonate. Astragalus lentiginosus is currently not cultivated commercially. To propagate the plant from seed, the seed coat must undergo scarification to allow the embryo to absorb water. Among the Zuni people, fresh pods of the diphysus variety of this species are eaten fresh, boiled, or salted. These pods are also dried and stored for use in the winter.
