Cicer Milkvetch


Astragalus cicer L.
Cicer milkvetch is a palatable, non-bloating, perennial legume. The name comes from the belief that goat’s milk supply was increased from eating vetches. It does not accumulate toxic levels of selenium, unlike many of the other milkvetches or “loco weed.”
Deeply branched taproots and tough rhizomes develop from wide, winter-hardy crowns. Stems begin growing upright but soon fall or lodge. These hollow, succulent stems can be up to 120 cm (47 in.) long, growing to about half that in stand height. Compound leaves grow up to 15 cm (6 in.) long, and are made up of 13 to 27 hairy, paired leaflets.
Seed heads develop from buds on the stems, while leaves keep growing. There can be up to 40 pale yellow to white flowers attached to one stem. After cross-pollination, seed pods grow up to 15 mm (1/2 in.) long, turning black as they ripen. Each pod easily shatters to reveal up to 12 bright yellow to pale green seeds, which are hard and impervious to moisture.