VOL. II.] 



PEA FAMILY. 



303 



19. Astragalus distortus T. & G. 

 Bent Milk Vetch. (Fig. 2143.) 



Astragalus distortus T. & G. Fl. N. A. i: 333. 

 1838. 



Sparingly pubescent or glabrate, diffuse or as- 

 cending, much branched from the base, stems 

 8 / -i5 / long. Leaflets 11-25, obovate or oval, 

 emarginate or rounded at the apex, narrowed at 

 the base, 2 // -5 // long; flowers purple, 4 // -6 // 

 long, in loose short spikes; pod sessile in the 

 calyx, i-celled, slightly inflated, linear-oblong, 

 coriaceous, strongly curved, glabrous, grooved 

 on the under side, i'-i j' long. 



In dry soil, Illinois to Iowa, south to West Vir- 

 ginia, Mississippi and Texas. March-July. 



20. Astragalus elegans (Hook.) Britton. 

 Pretty Milk Vetch. (Fig. 2144.) 



Phaca elegans Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 144. 1830. 

 Astragalus oroboides var. Americana A. Gray, Proc. Am. 



Acad. 6: 205. 1864. 

 Phaca parviflora Nutt. ; T. & G. Fl. N. A. i: 348. 1838. 



Glabrous or nearly so, erect or ascending, slender, 

 somewhat branched, io'-2C/ high. Stipules ovate, 

 acute, about 2" long; flowers purple, $"-4," long, in 

 elongated spike-like racemes; leaflets 9-17, oblong or 

 linear-oblong, 8 // -io // long; pedicels at length i" long; 

 pod sessile, ellipsoid, i-celled, pendent, slightly in- 

 flated, obtuse at each end, apiculate, black-pubescent 

 all over, 2 // -3 // long. 



Quebec, Labrador, the Saskatchewan region and in the 

 higher and northern Rocky Mountains. June-Aug. 



2i. Astragalus aboriginorum Richards. Indian Milk Vetch. (Fig. 2145.) 



Astragalus aboriginorum Richards. App. Frank. 

 Journ. 28. 1823. 



Phaca aborigina Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 143. pi. 56. 

 1830. 



Finely canescent or glabrate, erect, somewhat 

 branched, 8'-i5' high. Stipules ovate, acute, 

 membranous or foliaceous, a // -3 // long; leaflets 

 9-13, linear or oblong, obtuse or acute, 6 // -io // 

 long; flowers white, tinged with violet, 4 // ~5 // 

 long, in rather loose racemes; peduncles longer 

 than the leaves; pod slightly inflated, compressed, 

 oval in section, i-celled, glabrous, half-elliptic, 

 long-stipitate, acute at each end, slightly sulcate, 

 the dorsal suture slightly intruded; calyx blackish- 

 pubescent, its teeth subulate. 



Manitoba and the Northwest Territory, south to 

 Colorado. Root long and yellow, " collected by the 

 Cree and Stone Indians in the spring as an article of 

 food " (Richardson). May-June. 



