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Home , Anthyllis, Astragalus, Astragalus agrestis, Astragalus alpinus, Astragalus australis, Astragalus bisulcatus

AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE OF

Compiled and written by Linda Kershaw & Lorna Allen

January 2020

© Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen This key was compiled using information primarily from (1983), Douglas et. al. 1999, Gleason and Cronquist 1991, and Lesica 2012. follows VASCAN (Brouillet, 2019). The main references are listed at the end of the key. The 2018 S-ranks of rare (S1; S1S2; S2; S2S3; SH; SU, according to ACIMS, 2015) are noted in superscript (S1;S2;SU) after the species names. For more details go to the ACIMS web site. Similarly, exotic species are followed by a superscript X, XX if noxious and XXX if prohibited noxious (X; XX; XXX) according to the Alberta Weed Control Act (2016). FABACEAE Key to Genera 1a 01a , 1-4 m tall, usually spiny; even- pinnate, with 4-6 pairs of leaflets; bright yellow, 15-23 mm long, on long, slender stalks, single or in clusters...... arborescens X 01b Herbs; leaves and flowers not as above. . . 02 02a Leaves with thread-like, twining appendages (); climbing or in tangled masses...... 03 02b Leaves without tendrils; plants not climbing .06

03a Stipules leafy (→), usually larger than the leaflets; leaflets 4 or 6; styles folded lengthwise and hairy on the sides; stems not winged . . . . 3a ...... sativum

→ 03b Stipules leafy or scale-like, not larger than the leaflets; leaflets 2-30; styles not folded lengthwise, hairy at the tip or on the sides; stems angled or winged...... 04 4a 04a Plants annual, exotic, rare crop/garden escapes, in disturbed areas; flowers white to pale blue, often with blue veins on the upper (banner), ±6 mm long, 1-3/cluster; pods 10-14 mm long, with 1-2 -shaped ...... Lens culinaris 04b Plants perennial, mostly native, relatively

5a common and widespread, in various habitats; → flowers reddish or bluish purple, purple or yellowish white, >1 cm long, (2)5-20/cluster; pods 15-40 mm long, mostly with >2 seeds . 05

05a Styles flattened, hairy on the upper side →)( ; → leaflets 6-10(16) (excluding stipules), 2.5-6 cm long, mostly egg-shaped to elliptic (narrower in palustris) ...... Lathyrus 05b Styles thread-like, hairy at the tip (→); leaflets 5b (8)10-22, 1-3 cm long, linear to elliptic. . 06a jointed pods (), narrowed between seeds and breaking into segments; keels squared or pointed at the tip...... 07 06b Fruits unjointed, 2-sided pods (); 7a keels not squared at the tip ...... 08 07a Flowers in elongated clusters (); keels ending abruptly (as if cut off); pods flattened, 3-8 mm wide, hanging ...... 07b Flowers in loose, umbrella-shaped heads; keels sharp pointed; pods 4-sided, linear, <3 mm wide, erect to ascending...... 7b ...... varia X ...... [ varia]

3 9b 08a Leaves dotted with sunken glands...... 09 08b Leaves not dotted with glands ...... 12 9a 09a Leaflets pinnately arranged ...... 10 09b Leaflets radiating from the base/palmately arranged...... 11 10a 10a Leaflets 11-19, 20-40 mm long; flowers - like, strongly bilaterally symmetric, yellowish white, ±12 mm long, in elongated clusters (racemes); 10, covered by the ; pods prickly, bur-like, 10-20 mm long, with 2-5 seeds ...... lepidota 10b Leaflets 3-9, 5-20 mm long; flowers almost radially symmetric, with 5 similar, slender- stalked petals, purple, -purple or white, 2-7 mm long, in dense, cylindrical spikes, opening first at the bottom of the spike; stamens 5, projecting beyond the petals; pods not prickly, 3-4 mm long, with 1-2 seeds ...... [Petalostemon] 10b 11a 1-2 mm long; pods glandular; leaflets lance-shaped, widest towards the tip, ≤5 mm wide ...... Ladeania lanceolata [ lanceolatum; lanceolata] 11b 11b Sepals >2 mm long (at least in ); pods not glandular; leaflets elliptic to oval, widest near the middle, >10mm wide. . . ...... [Psoralea, in part] 11a 12a Leaflets (1)3...... 13 12b Leaflets >3 ...... 20

15a 13a Leaflets finely toothed...... 14 13b Leaflets smooth-edged...... 19 14a Flowers in elongated clusters (racemes). . .15 14b Flowers in compact, spherical to oblong heads...... 16 15a Flowers yellow or white, 4-6 mm long, in stalked, slender, ±1 x 5-10 cm clusters; plants annual or biennial, 50-250 cm tall; common, widespread weeds...... 15b Flowers pink to blue, 10-20 mm long, paired, 15b in dense, showy clusters at stem tips; plants perennial, ± woody at the base, 50-100 cm tall; a rare roadside weed...... spinosa ssp. hircina X ...... [Ononis arvensis] 16a Petals and sepals persistent in fruit; pods papery, beakless, enclosed in the calyx; tip leaflet ± stalkless ...... Trifolium 16b Flowers and pods not as above; tip leaflet 16a stalked ...... 17 17a Pods strongly curved to spirally coiled...... 17a ...... (in part) 17b Pods ± straight to sicle-shaped. . . . . 18

4 18a Pods egg-shaped, with a slender beak longer X 18b than the body...... caerulea 18b Pods oblong-linear, slightly curved/sicle- shaped to ± straight, short-beaked...... Medicago (in part) 19a Plants 10-40 cm tall, with well-developed stems; flowers golden yellow; pods long, narrow, curved, 30-70 mm long ...... 18a ...... rhombifolia 19b Plants 2-8 cm tall, tufted or cushion-like, with short or no stems; flowers bluish purple or yellowish white; pods egg-shaped, 3-10 mm long...... (in part) 20a Leaflets radiating from the base (palmate). . . . . 19a ...... 20b Leaflets pinnate ...... 21 19b 21a Leaflets alternate, the tip leaflet usually distinctly larger (the first leaves sometimes simple/undivided); flowers yellow, 15 mm long, 21a in head-like clusters with 3- to 4-lobed at the base; capsules hairy, 1 cm long...... vulneraria X 21b Leaflets paired (opposite) or radiating from the base, mostly similar in size; flowers and capsules not as above...... 22 22a clusters umbrella-shaped (umbels); flowers yellow; leaflets 5, pinnately arranged, with the lowest pair attached at the base of the 20a stalk (resembling stipules) ...... corniculatus X 22b Flower clusters elongated (racemes); leaves not as above...... 23 23a Calyx lobes awl-shaped, longer than the tube; pods 1-seeded, flattened, 5-7 mm long and almost as wide, with veins and short spines; flowers pinkish to red or purple...... viciifolia X 23b Calyx lobes and pods not as above; flower variously colored...... 24 23a 22a 24a Flowering stems ± leafless; keels sharp- pointed (→)...... 24b Flowering stems mostly leafy; keels round- or blunt-tipped (→) ...... Astragalus

24b

→ → 24a

5 ASTRAGALUS Milkvetch 01a Leaflets needle-like, 1 x 7-12 mm, distinctly spine-tipped, (3)5-9/; flowers in clusters of 1-3(4), in leaf axils (often paired), sAB...... 1a ...... S2 01b Leaflets not needle-like; leaves, leaflets and flowers various, leaflets not spine-tipped (sometimes sharply pointed) ...... 02 02a Leaflets narrow, linear, curving forward toward the leaf axis (incurved), ±2 mm x 15-70 mm, with edges usually down-rolled; flowers yellowish white, (16)21-24(27) mm long. . . .. 2a ...... Astragalus pectinatus 02b Leaflets egg-shaped to oval, >2 x 10-40 mm, with flat or folded (not rolled) edges; flowers yellowish or purple, mostly <15 mm long. . .03 03a Plants low, ≤10 cm tall; densely tufted or cushion-shaped, with many, crowded leaves; stems 0-10 cm long, mostly unbranched and leafless; flower clusters often shorter than the 4a leaves or barely longer; dry grassland sites in sAB...... 04 03b Plants >10 cm tall, not densely tufted; stems ≥10 cm long, erect to sprawling, often branched and leafy; flower clusters usually exceeding the leaves; various habitats. . . 07 04a Leaves with 3 leaflets radiating from the centre (palmate); flowers short-stalked, borne among the leaves on the crown of the ...... Astragalus gilviflorus 04b Leaves with 1 (rarely 3) or (3)5-15(21) pinnate leaflets; flowers with ± well developed stalks. 05 5a 05a Leaves simple (sometimes with 2 linear leaflets), 1-4(10) cm long, linear to lance- shaped and widest towards the tip; flowers purple (rarely yellowish or whitish), 5.7-9.5 mm long; pods erect, 4-13 x 1 .5-3 .3 mm, hairless or with stiff, flat-lying hairs ...... Astragalus spatulatus 05b Leaves with (3)5-15(21) leaflets; flowers yellow, pale lavender to white, usually >7 mm 6a long; pods ascending or spreading, 12-37 x 5-9.5 mm, hairy to densely shaggy-hairy. . .06 06a Plants greyish woolly with unbranched hairs; flowers 19-25(27) mm long, with a dark-tipped 6b keel; calyx lobes 1/4-1/2 as long as the tube; pods densely shaggy-hairy with white hairs (2)2 5-4(5). mm long. . . .

06b Plants silvery with stalkless, parallel, 2-forked → (malpighian) hairs (→); flowers (4)7-14 mm long, without a dark-tipped keel; calyx lobes narrowly lance-shaped, ≈ the tube; pods

straw-coloured to purplish brown, often hairy, → but not densely so . . . . Astragalus lotiflorus

6 07a Stem mostly 5-10 mm thick at the base; leaflets (1)2-4(6) cm long...... 08 07b Stems mostly <5 mm thick at the base; leaflets <2 cm long ...... 11 08a Flower/fruiting clusters loose, open, often 1-sided; pods - or black and white-hairy; flowers whitish to pale purple, 6-11.5 mm long; keels sometimes strongly 2-colored (purple- tipped)...... 8a 08b Flower/fruiting clusters dense, spike-like (often elongating in fruit), not 1-sided; pods hairless (sometimes with a few stiff straight hairs); flowers white, yellowish or red-purple, 12-17 .5 mm

long; keels not strongly 2-coloreded. . . . . 09 → 09a Flowers spreading to bent sharply back/down

with age, reddish purple (rarely white); stems → often reddish; pods with two deep grooves (→) on the upper side, on 2-4 mm stalks, bent sharply back/down. . . 09b Flowers erect to hanging, white to yellowish green; stems green or red only at the base; pods not as above ...... 10 9a 10a Flower clusters 20- to 100+-flowered, with lower flowers bent downward and mid to upper 10a flowers upright to spreading; pods brown, 10b becoming black, (9)10-15 mm long, fleshy, becoming leathery, erect, ± stalkless; plants with ± parallel, stalkless, 2-forked (malpighian) hairs...... 10b Flower clusters 10-25(-30)-flowered, with flowers all bent downward; pods straw- coloured, 20-30 mm long, inflated (not fleshy or leathery), hanging on 4 .5-7 mm stalks; plants without 2-forked hairs...... Astragalus americanus 11a Flower/fruit clusters dense, spike-like, not elongating significantly with age...... 12 11b Flower/fruit clusters looser/more open, usually elongating with age...... 15 12a Pods beaked, inflated, ± spherical, with a groove down the middle and coarse, black and white hairs, turning black at maturity; leaf hairs 12a flat-lying straight, stiff, unbranched, attached at the base; flowers 12.5-16.5 mm long; plants forming dense, tangled clumps...... Astragalus X 12b Not as above ...... 13 13a Stems 25-60(65) cm tall, densely shaggy- hairy; flowers yellowish white, nodding; pods hairless, 17-32 mm long, hanging on 5-11 mm stalks...... 13a 13b Stems ≤40 cm tall, hairless or with flat-lying hairs; flowers purplish to whitish, ascending to erect; pods densely hairy, 7-12 mm long, erect on 0-1.5 mm stalks...... 14

7 14a Plants from branching persistent thickened bases, densely tufted, with stalkless, 2-forked hairs; stems erect to spreading; flowers in spike-like clusters of (7)16-50; pods not flattened, with white or white and black, dense, 14a flat-lying hairs, deeply grooved on one side; usually in dry habitats...... Astragalus laxmannii var. robustior .[Astragalus adsurgens; Astragalus striatus] 14b Plants from slender spreading rootstocks, with simple (not 2-forked) hairs; stems low, sprawling to ascending; flowers in head-like clusters of 5-15; pods somewhat flattened, densely greyish to blackish soft-hairy, slightly grooved beneath; commonly forming dense patches on moist sites . ...... [Astragalus dasyglottis] 14b 15a Pods hairless, ± spherical and abruptly pointed, 1.5-3 cm long, fleshy when young, leathery and hard with age, not splitting open; leaves blue-green, hairless above; flower clusters loose, elongated, with (5)7-15(35) flowers; flowers 16-25(27) mm long, yellowish white with a purple-tinged keel...... 15b Pods, plants, flowers, leaves not as above .16 16a Plants silvery-grey hairy with ± parallel, stalkless, 2-branched hairs; stems <15 cm long (excluding flower-cluster stalks); flowers 9.5-22(24) mm long, bluish purple to bright purple (rarely white), in loose, elongated clusters of (3)5-15 that extend beyond the adjacent leaves; pods stalkless, 15-28(30) mm 15a long, spreading. . . 16b Plants not silvery grey; hairs and stems various; flowers usually <15 mm long, light purple to bluish (rarely white); flower clusters various; pods stalked or stalkless, <18 mm long, erect to spreading ...... 17 17a Plants ± mat-forming, with slender, sprawling stems; flower/fruit clusters 1-4 cm long . . . . 18 17b Plants solitary or clumped, with erect to sprawling stems; flower/fruiting clusters >4 cm long (at least in fruit)...... 20 18a Leaflets (5)7-13, sharp pointed, often distinctly 16a folded upward lengthwise; flowers 5-9 mm long, purplish, in clusters of 3-7(11); calyx teeth linear, ≥ the tube; pods white-hairy, flattened but swollen around seeds, 6-12 mm long, ± stalkless . . . . Astragalus vexilliflexus 18b Leaflets 7-20+, rounded to shallowly notched at the tip, flat to slightly folded; flowers 8-15 mm long, pale purple, pink of bluish, in clusters of 3-16(23); calyx teeth triangular to lance- 18a shaped, shorter than the tube; pods black- hairy, not flattened, 5-17 mm long, stalked or stalkless...... 19

8 19a Leaves 1-8.5 cm long with 7-17(19) leaflets; flowers pink or bluish purple; calyces ±1/2 as long as the corollas; pods (4.5)7-10(12) mm

long, erect to spreading (→), stalkless; nAB . .

S2 → ...... Astragalus bodinii 19b Leaves (2)3-15 cm long with (11)15-25 leaflets; flowers pale bluish purple; calyces ≤1/3 as long as the corollas; pods (6)7-14 mm long, hanging on 1 .4-3 mm stalks (± as long as the calyx-tubes); widespread in the cordillera and n half of AB...... 19a 19b 20a Flower/fruit clusters on stalks that do not overtop the adjacent/subtending leaves (flowers begin within the leaves, but some may extend above)...... 21 20b Flower/fruit clusters on long stalks that overtop the adjacent/subtending leaves (flowers begin above the leaves)...... 23 21a Pods 13-22 mm long, flattened, linear, stalkless (no stalk within the calyx); leaflet tips sharply pointed to rounded. . . . . Astragalus miser 21b Pods either cylindrical and 10-20 mm long or flattened, oblong and 7-15 mm long, on 1-5 mm stalks; leaflet tips round to notched. . . . . 22

21a 22a Plants green, thinly hairy to hairless; flowers 22a yellowish white with purple-tipped keels; calyx tubes sparsely white- and black-hairy, with awl-shaped teeth ±2/3 as long as the tube; pods flattened, hairless, 7-16 mm long on (0.6)3-6 mm stalks 1-2X as long as the calyx tube...... Astragalus multiflorus ...... [Astragalus tenellus] 22b Plants ashy-grey with dense, flat-lying hairs; flowers pink or purplish to white with purple- tipped keels; calyx tubes white- or grey-hairy, with triangular teeth ±1/4 as long as the tube; pods cylindrical, hairless to sparsely stiff-hairy, (8)12-24mm long on 0.5-1.3 mm stalks...... Astragalus flexuosus 23a Pods flattened, 10-30 mm long on long 2.5-8 22b mm stalks, hairless and red with age; flowers yellowish-white, often purple-tipped on the keel, with deeply 2-lobed wings...... ...... [Astragalus aboriginum] 23b Pods and flowers not as above ...... 24 24a Stems sprawling to erect-ascending, 1-35 cm long; stipules mostly fused in a ring around 23a the stem (upper ones sometimes separate); leaflets mostly sharp-pointed (sometimes rounded in A . miser)...... 25 24b Stems erect to ascending (rarely sprawling), 7-75 cm long; stipules mostly separate (lower ones sometimes fused); leaflets rounded to notched...... 26

9 25a Flower/fruit cluster stalks ascending, often incurved, (1 5)2. 5-14. cm in fruit, slightly longer than the adjacent leaves (lowest flowers below to slightly above the leaf tips); pods 13-22(25) mm long, white-hairy or hairless, on ≤1 mm stalks; leaflets 3-30(40) mm, usually narrowly elliptic to linear and ± hairless above; flowers white or yellowish to bluish or purplish; 25a calyx teeth 1-2 .6 mm long, 1/3 as long as the 25b tube...... Astragalus miser 25b Flower/fruit cluster stalks sprawling, (1)2-8 cm in fruit, mostly ≥2X as long as the adjacent leaves (lowest flowers well above the leaf tips); pods 10-15 mm long, black-hairy, on 1-2 mm stalks; leaflets 5-17 mm long, usually oval to lance-shaped, usually with stiff, flat-lying hairs 26a above; flowers purple or violet; calyx teeth 1.2- 2.9 mm long, ≥1/2 as long as the tube...... Astragalus bourgovii 26a Flowers (6)7-11 .5 mm long, whitish to pale purple with purple keel tips; calyces 4-6 .8 mm, with a 3-4.5 mm tube and awl shaped, 0.7-2.3 26b mm lobes; fruit cluster axis (2)3-18(20) cm long; pods hanging, tipped with a point, on (1)1 .5- 5(6 .5) mm stalks; stipules 1 .5-6 mm; seeds (6)7-10 . . . Astragalus robbinsii var. minor ------...... [var. occidentalis] 26b Flowers (4)5 .5-8 mm long, purple (sometimes with a white banner); calyces 3-5 .4 mm, with a 2 .5-3 .5 mm tube and narrowly lance-shaped, 0.9-1.6 mm lobes; fruit cluster axis (1)3.5- 28 cm long; pods spreading or bent sharply back/down, tipped with a beak 0.8-1.5 mm, ± stalkless; stipules 3-9 mm; seeds 4-8...... Astragalus eucosmus 1b DALEA Prairieclover 1a 01a Flowers white; calyces hairless (except lobes); leaflets 5-9, 2-3 mm wide. . . . ------...... [Petalostemon candidum] 01b Flowers rose or purple; calyces shaggy-woolly; leaflets 3-5, 1-1.5 mm wide . Dalea. purpurea ...... [Petalostemon purpureum] HEDYSARUM Hedysarum 2a 1a 01a Lower surface of leaflets with obscure veins; calyx lobes ± equal, linear-awl-shaped, ≥ the tube...... 01b Lower leaf surface with conspicuous veins; calyx lobes very unequal, the upper ones triangular, shorter than the calyx tube . . . . .02 02a Flowers pinkish or reddish; pod segments 3 .5- 5 mm wide, not conspicuously wing-margined...... Hedysarum americanum ...... [] 02b Flowers yellowish; pod segments 6-8 mm 2b wide, conspicuously wing-margined......

10 LATHYRUS Vetchling 01a Flowers yellowish white; stipules ± heart- shaped, with rounded basal lobes, often ½ as long as the leaflets. . . Lathyrus ochroleucus 01b Flowers reddish purple; stipules ± arrowhead- shaped, with pointed basal lobes, clearly <½ as long as the leaflets...... 02 2a 02a Stems wingless; flowers in clusters of (10)15- 20; leaflets in 4-6 pairs; dry woods in ecAB...... Lathyrus venosus 02b Stems winged; flowers in clusters of 2-6(9); leaflets in 2-4(5) pairs; moist sites, rare in neAB...... S1 1a LUPINUS Lupine 2b 01a Plants annual, from slender taproots, 5-10(25) cm tall, with long, stiff hairs; leaflets 5-6(7), 1-2 cm long; stems often branched at the base; ------pods 10-15 mm long, 2-seeded; sandy soil and dunes in sc-seAB. . . . 01b Plants perennial, from ± woody, branched bases, mostly >25 cm tall with silky hairs; leaflets mostly more numerous and larger; stems simple or branched above; pods 10-30 mm long, with ≥3 seeds...... 02 02a Upper petal (banner) hairy across most of the 1a back ...... 03 02b Upper petal hairless on the back ...... 04 03a Flower-cluster stalks (1)4-25(30) cm long, with bracts 3-4 mm long; banner curved back above the midpoint (<3 mm from the tip), somewhat hairy across the back; basal leaves usually present; leaves hairy beneath and hairless or 3a; hairy above...... 5a 03b Flower-cluster stalks 2-4 cm long, with bracts 5-8 mm long; banner bent strongly back from near the middle (3 .5-6 mm from the tip), silky hairy across the back (→); basal leaves → usually absent; leaves densely silky hairy on both surfaces (rarely thinly silky above and appearing hairless). . . . . → 04a Upper leaf surface appearing green, hairless or sparsely hairy...... 05 04b Upper leaf surface greyish green to silvery, 3b hairy...... 07 05a Flowers 5-10(15) mm long; banner curved back from above the middle (<3 mm from the tip); prairie slopes and ridges at low elevations (1000-2000 m) in sAB. . . Lupinus argenteus 05b Flowers 9-21 mm long; banner bent strongly back from near the middle (5-10 mm from the tip); subalpine forest and moist woods in the mtns...... 06

11 06a Plants with some leaves clustered at the base on the lower stem; leaflets (9)1017(18), (40)60- 100(150) mm long, oval to lance-shaped and widest towards the tip; leaf tips pointed; pine forest in the Waterton area...... 6a . . . var. polyphyllus SU 06b Plants with stem leaves only, none clustered at the base; leaflets 5-8(15), (10)20-50(70) mm long, broadly lance-shaped and widest towards the tip; leaf tips rounded, (sometimes with abruptly sharp-pointed); open, subalpine forest in n mtns. . . . S3 07a Leaves mainly on the stem, not clustered at or 6b near the base at flowering time ...... 08 07b Leaves mainly clustered at the base at flowering time...... 09 08a Plants (20)50-100(150) cm tall; flower clusters 8a bracts 3-4 mm; flowers (5)8-10(15) mm long; 8b banner usually hairy on the lower side, curved backward from above the middle (<3 mm from the tip); keel fringed along most of the upper edge and hairless on the lower edge; pods with (2-)3-5(-6) seeds; slopes and ridges...... Lupinus argenteus 08b Plants (10)20-30(50) cm tall; flower cluster bracts 8-12 mm; flowers 12-18(20) mm long; banner hairless on the lower side, bent backward at the midpoint; keel usually fringed on the lower half of the upper edge and all along the lower edge; pods with 6-10 seeds; alpine or subalpine sites. . . . . . . . [ var. subalpinus] (not yet found in AB, but grows nearby in BC)

09a Flower clusters usually dense, with persistent bracts, borne on stalks ± as long as the cluster; upper subalpine to alpine sites in swAB, e to 9b csAB (Whisky Gap). . . S2 ...... [Lupinus minimus] 09b Flower clusters usually ± open, with bracts soon shed, borne on stalks 1/3-1/2 as long as the 9a cluster; subalpine forest w of Calgary...... Lupinus polyphyllus var. humicola S1 ...... [Lupinus wyethii]

MEDICAGO Medick; ------01a Plants shallow-rooted annuals, sprawling, mostly <20 cm tall; leaflets 5-15 mm long; flowers yellow, 2-3 mm long, in 5- to 10-mm- long clusters; pods one-seeded, 2-3 mm long, slightly curved, kidney-shaped, becoming X 1a black...... 01b Plants deep-rooted perennials, erect, 30-80 cm tall; leaflets 10-40 mm long; flowers yellow, blue or violet, 6-12 mm long, in 10- to 50 mm long clusters; pods several-seeded, 3-10 mm long, variously shaped and colored . . . . . 02

12 02a Corollas yellow (rarely violet); pods curved or straight. . . . Medicago sativa ssp. falcata X ...... [] 02b Corollas violet or blue (rarely pink or white); pods spirally coiled...... Medicago sativa ssp. sativa X 2b MELILOTUS Sweetclover 2a 01a Petals yellow, the upper one (banner) ≈ the wings; pods wrinkled; seeds often green ------or purple spotted. . . . X 01b Petals white, the upper one longer than the wings; pods inconspicuously net-veined (not wrinkled); seeds green (immature) to yellow . 1b ...... X ...... [Melilotus alba] OXYTROPIS 1a 01a Plant stems evident, usually with ≥1 evident joints; stipules leaf-like, only slightly joined to the leaf stalks; leaflet arrangement gives leaves a flattened appearance; pods bent downward ...... Oxytropis deflexa 01b Plants without evident stems; stipules not leaf-like, joined to the leaf stalks; leaves ------not noticeably flat-looking; pods erect or spreading...... 02 1a 02a Flowers purplish or blue...... 03 02b Flowers yellowish to whitish (occasionally blue-tinted in Oxytropis monticola)...... 07 03a Leaves, stems, calyces and pods ± sticky- glandular...... Oxytropis borealis ...... [Oxytropis viscida] 03b Leaves, stems, calyces and pods without sticky glands...... 04 04a Leaves with at least some joints where 3-4 leaflets are attached at the same point. . . 05 3a 04b Leaves with (1)2 leaflets per joint...... 08 05a Plants densely long-hairy; leaflets mostly in clusters (fascicles) of 3-4 (→), appearing whorled; stipules lacking club-shaped structures along the edge; flowers in spike-like clusters of (12)20-35(80) ......

5a ...... Oxytropis splendens

→ 05b Plants thinly soft hairy to ± hairless; leaflets → mostly paired, some in clusters; stipules with tiny club-shaped structures (→) mixed with hairs along the edge; flowers in head-like clusters of 5-12(30)...... 5b Oxytropis. campestris var. davisii S2? (in part) ...... [Oxytropis jordalii]

13 06a Bracts, stems, pods densely silky-hairy; calyces ± swollen/inflated at flowering time; flowers in clusters of 5-18 on stalks 2-13 cm long; pods not inflated, ± stalkless, covered in dense, white, silky hairs; dry grassland in Milk River Ridge area, swAB. . .. Oxytropis lagopus S1 06b Bracts, stems, and pods thinly soft hairy to 6a ± hairless; calyces not swollen/inflated at flowering time; mtn species ...... 07 07a Flowers in clusters of (1)2(3) on stalks 1-5 cm 7a long; stipules without club-shaped structures along the edge; pods inflated, stalked, usually reddish, sparsely hairy...... 07b Flowers in head-like clusters of 5-12(30) on 10-14 cm stalks; stipules with club-shaped structures (→) along the edge; pods not inflated, unstalked, usually greenish with short, dense hairs...... Oxytropis. campestris var. davisii S2? (in part)

...... → [Oxytropis jordalii] 08a Corollas (15)18-22 mm long; keels 15-20(25) mm long; upper petals (banners) 16-25 mm long; pods leathery, firm at maturity; leaflets 7b grey or silvery with dense, soft, spreading hairs, 11-15(17). . . . . 08b Corollas 12-18 mm long; keels 11-14 .5 mm long; upper petals 10-20 mm long; pods thin 8a and papery at maturity; leaflets with sparser, flat-lying, silky hairs, 7-33...... 09 09a Leaflets 17-33; flowers in clusters of10- 30; calyx 9-13 mm long, covered with soft white hairs; robust plants, (5)15-40 cm tall, of , open woodlands, and low-elevation sites in the mountains...... 9a ...... var. spicata ...... [Oxytropis monticola] 09b Leaflets 7-15(17); flowers in clusters of 3-15; calyx 7-9 mm long, with straight, stiff black and white hairs; low plants, 3-15 cm tall, of 9b alpine-subalpine ridges and meadows...... Oxytropis campestris var. cusickii ...... [Oxytropis cusickii] ------PEDIOMELUM Breadroot 01a Stems 4-20 cm long from swollen, tuberous ; flowers 12-15(20) mm long, in dense, thick clusters 5-12 cm long (including the stalk) surpassing the adjacent leaves ...... Pediomelum esculentum ...... [] 1a 01b Stems 15-60 cm long from spreading rootstocks; flowers mostly <10 mm long, in small, interrupted clusters 2-9 cm long (including the stalk) ± equalling the adjacent leaves...... Pediomelum argophyllum 1b ...... []

14 TRIFOLIUM 01a Flowers yellow, in heads 5-15 mm wide; plants annual from slender taproots...... 02 2a 01b Flowers white, pink, rose or purple, in heads 15-35 mm wide; plants biennial or perennial from spreading rootstocks ...... 03 2b 02a Flowers 5-7 mm long, in 10- to 20-mm-long clusters...... X ...... [Trifolium agrarium] 02b Flowers 3-5 mm long, in 6- to 7-mm-long clusters...... X 3a 03a Flowers 12-20 mm long, usually reddish, stalkless within the head; flowerheads with 1-2 short-stalked leaves at the base...... X 03b Flowers 7-11 mm long, white or pink, distinctly 4a stalked within the head; flowerheads without leaves at the base ...... 04 04a Stems creeping, often rooting at the joints; leaflets 1-2 cm long, usually notched at the tip; flowers white or pink-tinged; calyces without long hairs in the notches between the lobes ...... X 04b Stems sprawling to ascending, not rooting at the joints; leaflets 2-4 cm long, not notched at the tip; flowers pink or rose-tinged (sometimes 4b white); calyces with a few long hairs in the notches...... X ------

VICIA Vetch 01a Flowers (8)10-15 mm long; flower clusters 1-sided, dense, 15- to 40-flowered, ≈ or surpassing the adjacent leaves; leaflets (8)10- 20(24)...... X 01b Flowers 12-23 mm long; flower clusters not 1a 1-sided, loose, 2- to 9-flowered, not surpassing the adjacent leaves; leaflets 8-12(14)......

1b

15 References

Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS). 2018. List of all Taxa Confirmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - March 2018 in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. Boivin, B. 1972. Flora of the prairie provinces. Part III. Provancheria 4, Universite Laval, , QC . Britton, N. L. and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern and . Reprinted by Dover Publications in 1970 edition. Dover Publications, Inc ., , New York . Brouillet, L ., F . Coursol, S .J . Meades, M . Favreau, M . Anions, P . Bélisle & P . Desmet . 2015. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data. canadensys .net/vascan/ Budd, A. C., J. Looman, and K. F. Best. 2016. Budd’s flora of the Canadian prairie provinces . Volume 2 . Dicots . Reprint edition . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, SC . Cody, W. J. 1996. Flora of the Territory. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, . Douglas, G. W., D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar. 1999. Illustrated flora of . Volume 3. Dicotyledons (Diapensiaceae through Onagraceae). British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, British Columbia . Flora ID. 2017. Interactive plant keys for all native and naturalized vascular plants in the . Flora-id.org, Pendleton, . Accessed 2017. Flora.id@ wechlink .us . Flora of Editorial Committee, 2019. Draft text for Flora of North America North of . Volumes 10-11 Fabaceae: Astragalus. Flora of North America Association . Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada . 2 edition . The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York . Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson. 1955-69. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Press, Seattle, Washington . Hultén, E. 1968. Flora of and neighbouring territories. Stanford University Press, Stanford, . Kershaw, L.; Gould, J.; Johnson, D., Lancaster, J. 2001. Rare vascular plants of Alberta, Univ. Alberta Press, Edmonotn, Alberta and Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., North For. Cent., Edmonton Alberta. Kuijt, J. 1982. A flora of Waterton Lakes National Park. The University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta. Lesica, P. 2012. Manual of Vascular Plants. Botanical Research Institute of , Fort Worth, Texas . Moss, E. H. 1983. Flora of Alberta. 2nd edition. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario. Porsild, A. E. and W. J. Cody. 1980. Vascular plants of continental , Canada . National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Province of Alberta. 2016. Weed Control Act, Office Consolidation. Alberta Regulation 19/2010 with amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 125/2016. Alberta ’s Printer, Edmonton, AB. Accessed 2018. www.qp.alberta.ca. Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

16 List of Species and Illustration Sources Illus. Illus. Scientific Name Scientific Name Source Source B&B Lathyrus venosus JM Astragalus agrestis H&C Lens culinaris LK Astragalus alpinus H&C H&C Astragalus americanus H&C Lupinus argenteus H&C Astragalus australis H&C Lupinus latifolius H&C Astragalus bisulcatus H&C Lupinus lepidus H&C Astragalus bodinii LK Lupinus nootkatensis BC Astragalus bourgovii H&C Lupinus polyphyllus H&C Astragalus canadensis H&C var. humicola Lupinus polyphyllus BC H&C var. polyphyllus Astragalus crassicarpus H&C Lupinus pusillus H&C Astragalus drummondii H&C Lupinus sericeus H&C Astragalus eucosmus H&C Medicago lupulina H&C Astragalus flexuosus H&C Medicago sativa var. falcata H&C Astragalus gilviflorus H&C Medicago sativa var. sativa H&C Astragalus kentrophyta H&C; JM Melilotus albus H&C Astragalus laxmannii H&C Melilotus officinalis H&C Astragalus lotiflorus H&C H&C Astragalus miser H&C LK Astragalus missouriensis H&C Oxytropis borealis H&C Astragalus pectinatus H&C Oxytropis campestris H&C Astragalus purshii H&C var. cusickii Astragalus robbinsii B&B Oxytropis campestris JM Astragalus spatulatus H&C var. davisii Oxytropis campestris Astragalus tenellus H&C H&C var. spicata Astragalus vexilliflexus H&C Oxytropis deflexa H&C LK Oxytropis lagopus H&C Dalea candida H&C;JM Oxytropis podocarpa H&C H&C Oxytropis sericea JM H&C; JM Oxytropis splendens H&C Hedysarum americanum H&C Pediomelum argophyllum H&C;JM Hedysarum boreale H&C Pediomelum esculentum H&C Hedysarum sulphurescens H&C Pisum sativum LK Ladeania lanceolata H&C H&C Lathyrus ochroleucus H&C;LK H&C Lathyrus palustris H&C Trifolium aureum H&C

17 Illus. Scientific Name Source Trifolium dubium H&C Trifolium hybridum H&C Trifolium pratense H&C Trifolium repens H&C LK Vicia americana H&C;LK Vicia cracca H&C

Key to Illustration Sources

B&B = Britton, N. L. and A. Brown (1913)

BC = Province of British Columbia

H&C = Hitchcock, C . L ., A . Cronquist, M . Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson (1955-69)

JM = John Maywood .

LK - Linda Kershaw

18 Index Caragana Anthyllis arborescens 3 vulneraria 5 Coronilla Astragalus 5, 6 varia. See Securigera varia aboriginum. See Astragalus australis Dalea 4, 10 adsurgens. See Astragalus laxmannii candida 10 agrestis 8 purpurea 10 alpinus 9 Fabaceae 3 americanus 7 Glycyrrhiza australis 9 lepidota 4 bisulcatus 7 Hedysarum 3, 10 bodinii 9 alpinum. See Hedysarum americanum bourgovii 10 americanum 10 canadensis 7 boreale 10 cicer 7 sulphurescens 10 crassicarpus 8 Ladeania dasyglottis. See Astragalus agrestis lanceolata 4 drummondii 7 Lathyrus 3, 11 eucosmus 10 ochroleucus 11 flexuosus 9 palustris 11 gilviflorus 6 venosus 11 kentrophyta 6 Lens laxmannii culinaris 3 var. robustior 8 Lotus lotiflorus 6 corniculatus 5 miser 9, 10 Lupinus 5, 11 missouriensis 8 arcticus multiflorus 9 var. subalpinus. See Lupinus latifolius pectinatus 6 argenteus 11, 12 purshii 6 latifolius 12 robbinsii 7 lepidus 12 var. minor 10 minimus. See Lupinus lepidus var. occidentalis. See var. minor; nootkatensis 12 See Astragalus robbinsii var. polyphyllus minor var. humicola 12 spatulatus 6 var. polyphyllus 12 striatus. See Astragalus laxmannii pusillus 11 tenellus. See Astragalus multiflorus sericeus 11 vexilliflexus 8 wyethii. See Lupinus polyphyllus var.

19 humicola argophyllum 14 Medicago 4, 5, 12 esculentum 14 falcata. See Medicago sativa ssp. falcata Petalostemon. See Dalea lupulina 12 candidum. See Dalea candida sativa purpureum. See Dalea purpurea ssp. falcata 12 Pisum ssp. sativa 12 sativum 3 Melilotus 4, 13 Psoralea. See Pediomelum; See alba. See Melilotus albus also Pediomelum albus 13 argophylla. See Pediomelum Melilotus officinalis 13 argophyllum Onobrychis esculenta. See Pediomelum esculentum viciifolia 5 lanceolata. See Ladeania lanceolata Ononis Psoralidium arvensis. See Ononis spinosa lanceolatum. See Ladeania lanceolata spinosa Securigera ssp. hircina 4 varia 3 Oxytropis 5, 13 Thermopsis borealis 13 rhombifolia 5 campestris Trifolium 4 var. cusickii 14 agrarium. See Trifolium aureum var. davisii 13 aureum 14 var. spicata 14 dubium 14 cusickii. See Oxytropis campestris var. hybridum 15 cusickii pratense 14 deflexa 13 repens 15 jordalii. See Oxytropis campestris var. Trigonella davisii caerulea 5 lagopus 13 Vicia 3, 15 monticola. See Oxytropis campestris americana 15 var. spicata cracca 15 podocarpa 13 sericea 14 splendens 13 viscida. See Oxytropis borealis Pediomelum 4, 14

20