Astragalus Nothoxys, Sheep Milkvetch

Leaves of astragalus nothoxys are pinnately divided into an odd number of leaflets; one terminal, and 6 to 9 approximately opposite pairs along the stem. Leaflets may be flat or folded up along the midvein, and generally do not overlap. Leaflet tips are rounded or shallowly notched. Younger leaflets are ashy grey in color, becoming greener as they mature. The undersurfaces of the leaflets are paler, and have a light covering of strigose hairs. Plants produce several stems, prostrate or weakly ascending.

Flower clusters grow on stalks up to 5 inches in length. Flowers have a lobed calyx, about a quarter of an inch long, with a covering of black and white hairs. The pointed calyx lobes are less than half as long as the calyx tube. Petals may be all-white but are usually purple or pinkish. The banner petal is sharply bent upwards by around 90 degrees, and is a little larger than the two wing petals. The upper edge of the banner is fairly flat, with a small notch at the center. Seed pods are ascending, finely strigose, deeply grooved on one side, have a spike at the tip, and are a little less than one inch long.