Astragalus pectinatus

Narrow-Leaved Milk-Vetch

Stamens 

Harris Reservoir, 6 Miles South of Maple Creek
14-June-2008

The calyx, corolla, and pistil have been removed from this flower.

The stamens are divided into two groups.  The lower nine stamens are united along the basal two thirds of their filaments to create a single stamen bundle.  The upper, tenth stamen is distinct from the others.  This is an example of diadelphous stamen arrangement which is common in the Leguminosae.

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Pectinatus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 
bulletplants taller; NOT [plants low, 10 cm or less]
bulletplants with erect or decumbent stems; NOT [plants low, cushion-like, matted or straggling] (BF)
bulletstems evident, erect or decumbent, often branched and leafy; NOT [plants densely caespitose or pulvinate, leaves many and crowded] (FOA)
bulletstems generally thick, 5-10 mm at base; NOT [stems generally less than 5 mm thick  at base]
bulletleaves NOT needle-like
bulletleaflets narrow, linear; NOT [leaflets broad, ovate-oblong to elliptic]
bulletleaflets 2-6 cm long; NOT [leaflets shorter]
bulletflowers mostly 20-25 mm long; NOT [flowers shorter, mostly 10-15 mm long]
bulletflowers white, yellow, or greenish; NOT [flowers at least partly reddish, purplish, or bluish]

 

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Astragalus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 
bulletherbs; NOT [shrubs]
bulletplants NOT climbing
bulletleafy stems often present; NOT [leafy stems usually absent]
bulletthe terminal leaflet normal; NOT [the terminal leaflet replaced by a tendril]
bulletleaflets more than 3; NOT [leaflets 3 (rarely 1)]
bulletleaves pinnate; NOT [leaves palmate]
bulletleaves NOT glandular-dotted
bulletkeel not truncate; NOT [keel mostly truncate]
bulletkeel rounded or obtuse at the tip; NOT [keel with a sharp point at the tip]
bulletpods NOT segmented or jointed; NOT [pods segmented or jointed, breaking up at maturity]
bulletNOT [flowers pinkish to red or purple; calyx-lobes subulate, much longer than the tube; fruit only slightly longer than wide, with short, stout spines, 1-seeded]
bulletNOT [inflorescence umbel-like; flowers yellow; leaflets 5, pinnately arranged (the lower pair basal and resembling stipules)]

 

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Leguminosae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.
bulletherbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
bulletplants terrestrial or semi-aquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]
bulletplants NOT with colored milky juice
bulletplants with more than one normal leaf
bulletsome or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]
bulletleaves with stipules; NOT [leaves without stipules, or having glands]
bulletflowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others]
bulletcalyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
bulletflowers irregular in shape; NOT [flowers regular in shape]
bulletcorolla pea-like; NOT [corolla with one petal spurred or sac-like]
bulletstamens usually separate or partly so, not in a column; NOT [stamens numerous, united into a column]
bulletfruit a legume; NOT [fruit a 3-valved capsule]