Thompson's Woolly Locoweed
Astragalus Mollissimus
Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef NP
"Mollissimus" means "most soft", referring to the dense hairs on the leaves and stem. It's called "locoweed" because it contains and alkaloid, locoine, which is harmful to livestock. This family of plants is important because it fixes nitrogen, important to the biosynthesis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds.
Astragalus Mollissimus
Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef NP
"Mollissimus" means "most soft", referring to the dense hairs on the leaves and stem. It's called "locoweed" because it contains and alkaloid, locoine, which is harmful to livestock. This family of plants is important because it fixes nitrogen, important to the biosynthesis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds.