CANADA MILK VETCH
Astragalus canadensis
BEAN FAMILY (Fabaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - July, August
- Rare in restored prairies at NW
- Showy spike of crowded pea-like flowers on long stalk above leaves
- Leaves composed of many paired leaflets with an odd one at the tip
- Clusters of bean-shaped seed pods
This native, erect perennial grows up to 5 feet tall (usually 2-3 feet). The alternate, pinnate, compound leaves consist of 7-17 pairs of leaflets plus a single one at the tip (A). Crowded, upright spikes of cream to greenish-white, pea-like flowers up to 8 inches long occur at the ends of hairy stalks arising from the junction of leaf and stem (B). Fruits occur in persistent clusters of smooth, beaked, bean-shaped pods (C).
Canada Milk Vetch occupies moist prairies and woodland edges, flowering in July and August. It is rare in prairie restorations at Neale Woods and on the floodplain at Fontenelle Forest.
The seeds in mature pods rattle when shaken, hence the common name Rattleweed or Rattlebox. The name Milk Vetch arises from the belief it increased the production of milk in goats.
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