# woollypod milkvetch

*Astragalus purshii*

The extremely fuzzy seed pods are responsible for its name, appearing like tiny, woolly caterpillars or cocoons nestled in the dirt.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Fabales › Fabaceae › Astragalus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Dry sagebrush steppe, rocky slopes, and open plains at various elevations.
- **Diet:** Photosynthetic (Autotroph)
- **Range:** Western United States, Western Canada, Great Basin, Rocky Mountains
- **Size:** 5 to 15 cm in height; spreading mats up to 30 cm wide.
- **Lifespan:** 3-7 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, competition with invasive cheatgrass, and increased wildfire frequency.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to touch. Do not ingest any part of the plant; it contains selenium and swainsonine, which are toxic to humans, pets, and livestock. Safe to observe from any distance.

## About

Astragalus purshii is a species of milkvetch known by the common names woollypod milkvetch and Pursh's milkvetch .

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/184eb47b-088f-4c9b-aaaf-57b3409f2448
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59613
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astragalus purshii
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/13383/medium.jpg (Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.