Astragalus gambelianus E. Sheldon   Fabaceae (Pea Family)   Native   Gambel's Locoweed

                                         March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, thinly pilosulous with ascending hairs, green or cinereous; stems erect and ascending, to 3 dm. long; stipules free; lvs. 1-4 cm. long; lfts. 7-13, narrowly cuneate-oblanceolate, 2-9 mm. long, tips blunt or notched; peduncles 1.5-6 cm. long; fls. 4-15, the fls. at length recurved; calyx-tube 1-1.5 mm. long, the teeth less than 1 mm.; petals whitish with violet tinge; banner mostly 2.5-4 mm. long; pod deflexed, sessile, obcompressed, 3-4 mm. long, sulcate dorsally, the valves cross-wrinkled, fruit hairs of plants from near the coast straight, elsewhere incurved.

Habitat:  Largely grassy places, below 3000 ft.; S. Oak Wd., Coastal Sage Scrub; L. Calif. and ids.  and mainland; to Ore.  March-June.

Name:  Astragalus is from Greek meaning "anklebone" and was applied long ago to some plants in this family because of the shape of the seeds.  (Dale 109).  The species name is probably in honor of William Gambel, 1819-1849.  Protege of Thomas Nuttall and early transcontinental traveler, collector and writer on California birds.  He died of typhoid fever while trying to cross the Sierra Nevada and was buried on the Feather River.  Several birds bear his name.  (Jaeger 309).

General:  Rare in the study area having been found only once and this in February 1988 on the hillside to the north of 23rd St. I photographed the plant even through it was immature and I did take a small specimen.  The next time I visited the area the plant was gone and since there were no others, I felt identification was probably impossible, although, from the specimen I determined that I probably had a species of Astragalus.  I moved shortly after this and the specimen was lost until July 1990 when it fell out from between the folders of two already identified specimens.  The genus Astragalus is quite large, however, there are only 6 species found in Orange County.  From the foliage Fred Roberts was able to eliminate 4 of the 6 species and by looking at the UCI herbarium species we were able to pick A. gambelianus as the probable one for my specimen.  (my comments).       None of the California species of Astragalus has been tested by experimental feeding to determine whether or not it is toxic.  However, there is some evidence that a few of the native species cause injury to livestock.  It is probably well to regard with suspicion all species of Astragalus.  (Robbins et al. 254).       The pods of one species of Astragalus were pounded up and mixed with beans, and perhaps other articles of food, as a spice.  This according to Celestino Tortes, a Cahuilla Indian interviewed by Barrows in 1900.  Barrows is a reference used by Bean and Saubel in their book Temalpakh. (44).      Eat natural substances that improve the immune system.  Examples... Astragalus preparations are produced from the root of this plant.  It has antiviral and immune-boosting properties...and it can be purchased in any health food store.  Weil, Andrew, M.D. "Strengthen Your Immune System."  Bottom Line Personal Vol.19 No. 18  Sept. 15, 1998, 1,2.  No species name is  given in this article.  (my comment).      Indians chewed the plant to cure sore throats and to reduce swellings.  The boiled root was made into a decoction to wash granulated eyelids and for toothaches.  (Sweet 43).      The degree of toxicity of Astragalus species. depends upon the type of soil the plants grow in.  (James 85).

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Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 594; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 428;  Roberts 23.

Photo Ref:  March-April 88 # 1A,2A.

Identity: by F. Roberts.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 408.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 1/14/03.