Forage Identification: Cicer milkvetch

Department of Plant Sciences

Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.)

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.

 

Cicer milkvetch

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.

Cicer milkvetch

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

Cicer milkvetch flower

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

Cicer milkvetch seeds

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

Cicer milkvetch pods

Primary Uses:  
Pasture, hay or erosion control.

Cicer milkvetch seeds
 
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