Herbs perennial, selenophytes, clump-forming, caulescent; caudex subterranean or superficial. Hairs basifixed. Stems several to many. Stipules connate or distinct at distal nodes. Leaves odd-pinnate, sessile, subsessile, or petiolate; leaflets (0 or 1–)5–15(–21), confluent with rachis or reduced to phyllodia. Racemes densely or loosely flowered, flowers ascending to declined or nodding. Calyx tubes cylindric. Corollas white, cream, ochroleucous, or pink-purple, banner recurved through 40–50°, keel apex obtuse. Legumes persistent, usually sessile, rarely stipitate, erect, deflexed, or pendulous, linear-ellipsoid, narrowly oblong, oblong-ellipsoid, or ellipsoid, compressed dorsiventrally or laterally, sutures protruding, unilocular. Seeds 12–32.
Distribution
w North America.
Discussion
Species 8 (8 in the flora).
Section Pectinati consists of two subsections: subsect. Osterhoutiani Barneby (Astragalus osterhoutii) and subsect. Pectinati (A. Gray) M. E. Jones (the other seven species).
Selected References
None.