ground plum
(Astragalus crassicarpus var. crassicarpus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | NNR - Unranked SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Ground plum is a 1″ to 6″ tall, reclining, perennial forb rising on a cluster of stems from a stout taproot and caudex. The stems recline on the ground with the tips turned upward. They can extend 4″ to 24″ but are usually no more than 15″ long. They branch near the base but are otherwise mostly unbranched. They are covered with straight, stiff, appressed hairs. The leaves are alternate, 2″ to 5″ long, and pinnately divided into 15 to 29 leaflets. Each leaf has a terminal leaflet and an odd total number of leaflets. There is an egg-shaped, pointed, ⅛″ to ⅜″ long stipule at the base of each leaf stalk. The leaflets are inversely lance-shaped to elliptic, 5 ⁄16″ to ⅝″ long, and less than ¼″ wide. The leaf tips may be rounded or pointed. The upper surface is sparsely covered with appressed hairs or is hairless. The lower surface is covered with appressed hairs. The inflorescence is an unbranched, short cluster of 5 to 25 stalked flowers. It is on a stout, 1″ to 4″ long stalk rising from a leaf axil. The stalk is equal to or shorter than the leaves. The flowers are ⅝″ to 1″ long. There are 5 sepals fused for most of their length into a ¼″ to 5 ⁄16″ long, cylinder-shaped calyx tube with dark hairs. The 5 petals are purple and form a butterfly-like corolla, as is typical of plants in the Pea family. They are organized into a broad banner petal at the top, two lateral wing petals, and between the wings two petals fused into a keel. The keel is not tipped with a sharp point. The banner is broad, ½″ to 1″ wide, and is notched at the tip. The fruit is a ½″ to 1″ long, purplish-brown seedpod containing many seeds. |
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Height |
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Reclining, 4″ to 24″ long |
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Flower Color |
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Purple |
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Similar Species |
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American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana) stems are hairless. The leaves are hairless or sparsely hairy. Each leaf has just 4 to 8 pairs of leaflets. There is a tendril in place of the terminal leaflet, giving the leaf an even number of leaflets. The leaflets are larger, up to 1″ long and ½″ wide. The inflorescence has just 2 to 9 flowers. |
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Habitat |
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Dry. Prairies, bluffs, roadsides. Full sun. |
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Ecology |
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Flowering |
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April to May |
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Pests and Diseases |
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Use |
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Distribution |
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| 3/21/2023 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native |
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Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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| Kingdom | Plantae (green algae and land plants) | ||
| Subkingdom | Viridiplantae (green plants) | ||
| Infrakingdom | Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) | ||
| Superdivision | Embryophyta (land plants) | ||
| Division | Tracheophyta (vascular plants) | ||
| Subdivision | Spermatophytina (seed plants) | ||
| Class | Magnoliopsida (flowering plants) | ||
| Superorder | Rosanae | ||
Order |
Fabales (legumes, milkworts, and allies) | ||
Family |
Fabaceae (legumes) | ||
| Subfamily | Faboideae | ||
| Tribe | Galegeae (milkvetches, locoweeds, and allies) | ||
| Subtribe | Astragalinae | ||
| Genus | Astragalus (milkvetches) | ||
| Subsection | Sarcocarpi | ||
| Species | Astragalus crassicarpus (ground plum) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Astragalus carycarpus Astragalus caryocarpus Astragalus succulentus Geoprumnon crassicarpum Geoprumnon succulentum |
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Common Names |
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buffalo bean buffalo pea ground plum ground-plum groundplum milkvetch |
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Glossary
Axil
The upper angle where the leaf stalk meets the stem.
Calyx
The group of outer floral leaves (sepals) below the petals, occasionally forming a tube.
Caudex
A short, thickened, woody, persistent enlargement of the stem, at or below ground level, used for water storage.
Corolla
A collective name for all of the petals of a flower.
Pinnate
On a compound leaf, having the leaflets arranged on opposite sides of a common stalk. On a bryophyte, having branches evenly arranged on opposite sides of a stem.
Sepal
An outer floral leaf, usually green but sometimes colored, at the base of a flower.
Stipule
A small, leaf-like, scale-like, glandular, or rarely spiny appendage found at the base of a leaf stalk, usually occurring in pairs and usually dropping soon.
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Slideshows |
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| Ground Plum For Sale Tn Nsy |
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About
Published on Jul 3, 2013 Ground Plum http://www.tnnursery.net/ground-plums/ Ground Plum for sale at TN Nursery. These magnificent purple blooms will bring that special touch and burst of life to a garden or water garden. They love moist soil conditions so they will work perfectly around a water source. They will bring joy and delight as they are in bloom. |
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