Astragalus tener var. ferrisiae
Brittonia 42: 100, fig. 1. 1990.
Stems single to several, 6–26 cm. Leaves 2–6 cm; leaflets 7–15. Racemes 3–12-flowered. Flowers 7.8–9.6 mm; calyx 2.8–3.6 mm. Legumes incurved (crescentic), 27–50 mm, base tapered, glabrous or pubescent; stipe 2.7–5 mm. Seeds (10 or)11–16.
Phenology: Flowering Apr.
Habitat: Subalkaline fields and vernally moist meadows.
Elevation: 0–60 m.
Discussion
Variety ferrisiae from the Sacramento Valley, now very rare, shares about as much with Astragalus rattanii as it does with A. tener. It is retained here with reservation. Plants included in this variety were placed with A. rattanii var. jepsonianus by R. C. Barneby (1964), in which leaflet number averages greater (7–15 versus 7 or 9). In addition, A. Liston noted that var. ferrisiae can be distinguished from A. rattanii var. jepsonianus by its smooth seeds, deflexed pedicels, and crescentic, pseudostipitate fruits.
Selected References
None.