Milk Vetch
Astragalus monspessulanus Fr: Astragale de Montpellier
This pink-flowered vetch grows as a low clump, with the flower stalks and leaf stalks rising directly from the roots, rather than from above-ground stems. The plant in our photo was on a rocky hillside above St. André-les-Alpes, about 1200 m altitude.
Flower. The pinkish-purple flowers grow in tight clusters of 7 to 30, at the tips of long stalks that are taller than the leaf stalks.
Leaves. The leaves are in 10-20 pairs of ovals along a stalk that grows to 20 cm long, distinctive from other vetches. The leaflets are smooth on top and hairy beneath.
Habitat. Dry, rocky ground.
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