Flower ID: IMG_2170.JPG-07-06-2019 Flower name (scientific): Astragalus canadensis Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ass-TRA-gal-uss ka-na-DEN-sis Flower name (common): Canada Milkvetch Family name (common): Pea Family name (scientific): Fabaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek for ankle bone, referring to the vertebra like knotted roots. Specific epithet: Of or from Canada. Common name origin: The first part of both the common name and the specific epithet comes from the recorded provenance given as "Habitat in Virginia, Canada." Milkvetch is a compounding of milk + vetch and probably is a reference to the belief that certain plant species improved the milk yield of grazing animals, though this species is known to be toxic to animals when ingested in large quantities. Flower description: Size: 0.4 to 0.5 inches (1.0 to 1.3 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 12 to 48 inches (30 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, odd pinnate (IL), leaflet, lanceolate to oblong, elliptic, or ovate (MP), oblong (IL). Shape: leaf, odd pinnate (IL), leaflet, lanceolate to oblong, elliptic, or ovate (MP), oblong (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): June to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, thickets, woods, sun or semi-shade, moist to dry, black or sandy soil. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Astragalus neglectus (Cooper's Milkvetch) is similar to Astragalus canadensis, but the former species is recorded from only a few counties in Wisconsin where it is listed as endangered. Astragalus neglectus has clusters with 10 to 20 flowers, whereas Astragalus canadensis has a spike of of about 12 to 30 cm long with approximately 30 to 70 flowers. Astragalus racemosus (Cream Milkvetch) also has a resemblance, but this species has not been reported from Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois according to the USDA, and may only be historical in Minnesota. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Blackfoot, Dakota, and Lakota used the roots as a remedy for cuts, fevers, and chest and back pains, repsectively (Moerman, p. 113, 1998). The Blackfoot also utilized the roots as a food source. Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NT, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis (The other infraspecifics are Astragalus canadensis var. brevidens (Gandoger) Barneby, Astragalus canadensis var. mortonii (Nuttall) S. Watson. Both of these varieties occur in the US.) Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC