~~ 
Vor. IL] PEA FAMILY. 297 
1. Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. 
Ground Plum. (Fig. 2125.) 
Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. Fraser’s Cat. 1813. 
Astragalus carnosus Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 740. In 
part. 1814. 
Astragalus caryocarpus Ker, Bot. Reg. 2: pl. 176. 
1816. 
Appressed-pubescent, branching at the base, 
branches decumbent or ascending, 6’—15’ long, 
mostly simple. Stipules ovate, acute, 2’/-3/” 
long; leaflets 15-25, oblong, elliptic or sometimes 
obovate, obtuse, narrowed at the base, 3//-6/’ 
long, 114//-244’’ wide; peduncles equalling or 
shorter than the leaves; flowers violet-purple, 8//— 
9/’ long, in short racemes; pods sessile, thick, 
fleshy, completely 2-celled, indehiscent, glabrous, 
globose or oval, short-pointed, 8’/—12’’ in diameter. 
Prairies, Minnesota to Manitoba and the North- 
west Territory, south to Iowa, Colorado and Texas. 
Fruit edible, collected by prairie-dogs for their win- 
ter store. April-June. 
2. Astragalus Mexicanus A, DC. 
Larger Ground Plum. 
(Fig. 2126.) 
Astragalus Mexicanus A. DC. Pl. Rar. 
Jard. Gen. 4:16. 1826. 
Astragalus trichocalyx Nutt.; T. & G. Fl. 
N. A 1: 332. 1838. 
Similar to the preceding species, but 
less pubescent and with the hairs some- 
what spreading. Leaflets 17-33, oblong 
to obovate, obtuse or emarginate at the 
apex, narrowed at the base; flowers yel- 
lowish-white, or purplish at the tip, 9/’— 
12/’ long, in short racemes; pod sessile, 
thick, fleshy, indehiscent, glabrous, glo- 
bose, not pointed, 1/-11¢’ in diameter. 
j S= Prairies, Illinois to Nebraska, south to 
Z Arkansas and Texas. Fruitedible. May. 
3. Astragalus Platténsis Nutt. Platte 
Milk Vetch. (Fig. 2127.) 
Astragalus Platlensis Nutt.; T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 
332. 1838. 
Villous-pubescent with spreading hairs, pros- 
trate or ascending, 6’-12’ high orlong. Leaflets 
13-29, oblong to obovate, obtuse at the apex, nar- 
rowéd at the base, 4’’-9’’ long, about 2’ wide; 
stipules broad, ovate, pointed, 3/’-4/’ long; flow- 
ers yellowish-white or tipped with purple, about 
9’ long, in short heads; pod sessile, ovoid, 
pointed, fleshy, indehiscent, 2-celled, smooth, 
loosely pubescent, nearly straight. 
Prairies, Indiana to Minnesota and Nebraska, 
south to Alabama and Texas. May. 
