Common Name: Specklepod Milkvetch

General Information

Astragalus lentiginosus is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing 15 - 60cm tall from a taproot.
The plant was a favoured food of various native N. American tribes, and is still sometimes harvested from the wild for local use.
Astragalus lentiginosus has a wide distribution range. There are no major known threats to the species as a whole and the population is believed to be stable. The plant is, however, polymorphic and up to 40 distinct forms have been described - some of these are highly localized and threatened due to habitat disturbance, agriculture expansion and livestock. Overall, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

Many members of this genus contain toxic glycosides[].
A number of species can accumulate toxic levels of selenium when grown in soils that are relatively rich in that element[].
All species with edible seedpods can be distinguished by their fleshy round or oval seedpod that looks somewhat like a greengage.[]

Botanical References

Range

Western N. America - British Colombia to Wyoming, south to California, northern Mexico and New Mexico.

Habitat

Sandy plains, mesas and rocky slopes in canyons, sometimes on dunes or along sandy roadsides in yucca grassland or piñon or juniper forests, at elevations from 1,500 - 2,200 metres.

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a dry well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and are best planted in their final positions whilst still small[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[]. Many members of this genus can be difficult to grow, this may be due partly to a lack of their specific bacterial associations in the soil[].

Edible Uses

The following reports of edibility were all for the var Astragalus lentiginosus var. diphysus (A.Gray) M.E.Jones (Syn Astragalus diphysus A.Gray[].

Seed - cooked[, ].

Seedpods - raw, cooked or dried for later use[, ]. The boiled and salted pods are considered to be a special treat[].

Roots - raw or cooked[]. The fleshy roots are eaten fresh[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. A period of cold stratification may help stored seed to germinate[]. Stored seed, and perhaps also fresh seed, should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in hot water before sowing - but make sure that you do not cook the seed[, ]. Any seed that does not swell should be carefully pricked with a needle, taking care not to damage the embryo, and re-soaked for a further 24 hours[, ]. Germination can be slow and erratic but is usually within 4 - 9 weeks or more at 13°c if the seed is treated or sown fresh[]. As soon as it is large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.