General: Clokey Egg Milkvetch (Astragalus oophorus var. clokeyanus) is a low-growing perennial forb with compound leaves. The flowers are purple "pea flowers" (bilaterally symmetrical). The seed pods are inflated and tan with large reddish blotches.

Clokey Egg Milkvetch is a very rare component of desert mountain communities. Around Las Vegas, look for this species at the beginning of the Bristlecone Trail in Yellow Pine Forest (Transition) life zone up on Mt. Charleston.

This plant is rare. Be sure to stay on the trail and do not climb over the fence. If you do, you will surely trample some of these rare plants.

Family: Legume [Pea] (Fabaceae).

Other Names: Egg Milkvetch.

Plant Form: Low and spreading with short stems and leaves arising from the base.

Height: Usually about 6-inches high.

Stems: Short, spreading.

Leaves: Compound (odd-1-pinnate), to about 6 inches.

Flowers: Blooms in the spring. Flowers purple and white; "pea flowers."

Seeds:

Habitat: Dry, rocky, gravel soils in the mountains.

Elevation: About 8,000 feet.

Distribution: Mount Charleston area only.

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