Astragalus Minthorniae, Minthorn's Milkvetch

Stems and calyces of astragalus minthorniae, a Mojave Desert species, usually have a dense covering of coarse, spreading, greyish hairs, often curly and uneven-looking. Calyx hairs are darker grey. Stems grow vertically upwards or at an angle. Leaflets are grey-green, hairy, closely-spaced but generally not overlapping; they may have a reddish tint, especially along the edges.

The inflorescence is a vertical, elongated cluster of between 7 and 35 flowers, upright or ascending. Flowers have a greenish-purple calyx and yellowish to purple petals, often lighter at the edges. Petals become bluish as they wither. Fruits point upwards; they are red when mature, gently curved, around one inch long, covered by short, spreading hairs.

Two varieties are var minthorniae of south Nevada, and the more widespread var villosus, which is generally hairier.