Astragalus atratus S. Watson
Annotated by P. L. Packard, Aug 1999. Remarks: "This appears to be a pathology, a genetic factor, or something that affects the ontogeny of the plant at a very early stage so that all development is rechanneled and all anotomical features-probably botanical as well-are altered. The same alteration occurs in the same taxon in L. Smithman 1367 (CIC) from Magic Reservoir [Camas/Blaine Counties; this is really A. a. inseptus] but only on branch of the plant is affected. I think I have seen another total ontogenetic shift in A. oniciformis. This suggests the complex has a tendency toward this and may have some bearing on its rapid evolution. Since I only have the abnormal plants and no further info, I cannot make a positive ID. I assume you [Popovich] ID was made on normal plants in the same population."

Idaho: Owyhee County: Southern Owyhees, ca. 28 air-kilometers N of Murphy Hot Springs, ca. 30 meters E of main Bruneau-Three Creek Road. Elev. 1610 m.
T13S R9E S26 nese
Slope: 5%, Aspect: S, Soil: Deep, well-drained, loamy.¶Old Agropyron seeding, with Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Poa spp., Allium lemmonii, Antennaria microphylla, Cryptantha, Agropyron spicatum, A. cristatum sensu amplo, A. intermedium, Arabis, Mertensiana, Aspicillia hispida, good fungal/algal crusts. Flowers pale white. Hundreds of plants, most appearing atypical in morphology.

S. Popovich 6200, Jun 7, 1999
TFBLM, Barcode: TFBLM000605