(Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii ) Description: Perennial
herb. Stems erect, 8-36 inches (2-9 decimeters) long. Leaf 1/2-6
inches (1-15 cm) long, with 3-13 leaflets. Leaflets
narrow/oblong, 1/8-3/8 inches (2-8 millimeters) long, with one
terminal leaflet. Inflorescence contains 5-20 flowers with pink-
purple petals, often white tipped. Largest petal (banner) is
3/8-5/8 inches (10-14 millimeters) long. The fruit is a 6/8-1
3/8 inches (2-3.5 centimeters) long, and attached to the stem
(sessile). The fruit is an oval pod with a small hook at the
end, has stiff, straight, sharp hairs (strigose) covering it, is
inflated (bladdery), and has only one chamber. Distribution: The
only known extant occurrences in the United States are in the
Algodones (also known as Imperial) Sand Dunes of Imperial
County. It is also found on the sand dunes of the Gran Desierto
of Sonora, Mexico. Habitat: Found in desert dunes at elevation
55-250 meters. Flowering Period: Blooms December-April Similar
Plants: The only other milk-ve