Forage Identification: Cicer milkvetch

Adaptation: 
Grown in a wide variety of environments. It does well on all soil textures, but performs best on moderately-coarse-textured soils. Tolerance to alkalinity is increased with higher soil moisture levels. It performs well on poor, infertile soils and is useful in stabilizing critical or disturbed sites.

Growth Habitat:
Cicer milkvetch is a long-lived, perennial legume with a vigorous, creeping, root system and a short, stout taproot. The stems are large, hollow and succulent. Their growth is upright when young, becoming decumbent to trailing as growth continues.

Plant Characteristics:
Stems reach a length of 4 feet at the flower stage. Pale yellow to white flowers.

Seed Characteristics:
Seeds are shiny and larger than alfalfa or sweetclover seeds.

Important Identifying Characteristics:
Compound leaf, whitish-green flower, bladder-like pods.

Primary Uses:  
Pasture, hay or erosion control.