Furry Pods of Astragalus utahensis

Pink Lady-Slipper milkvetch (Astragalus utahensis) is one the earliest flowers to grace the Wasatch Foothills. Its first catkin-like pods are already there by early May. The botanist who first discovered this Utah native creeper described it as the most beautiful of North American Astragalus species. The bright flowers are large, almost an inch in size; the pinnate leaves are white-tufted; and the pods are densely covered by long white silky hair. 5/11/08