Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in the southeastern counties in Washington; southeastern WA east to adjacent Idaho.
Habitat: Dry bluffs and canyon banks.
Flowers: May-June
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Threatened in Washington (WANHP)
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, butterflies
Gray or greenish perennial from a woody taproot and crown, the erect stems tufted, 4-15 cm. long.
Leaves alternate, pinnate, 1-2 dm. long; leaflets 21-33, linear-oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, 4-21 mm. long, glabrous above; stipules 2.5-7 mm. long, papery, clasping but free.
Inflorescence of 10- to 20-flowered racemes, the peduncles stout, 14-30 cm. long, surpassing the leaves; pedicles ascending, 2-5 mm. long; flowers pale yellowish to greenish-white, drying yellowish; calyx 7-10 mm. long, with fine, black hairs, the 5 teeth 2-5 mm. long; banner 11.5-14 mm. long, recurved, the margins becoming lacerate, the wings longer than the banner; stamens 10.
Pod erect, sessile, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.5-2.5 cm. long and 6-10 mm. thick, with a rigid beak.
Publication: American Midland Naturalist 55(2): 490-491. 1956. 1956.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Astragalus riparius in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Astragalus riparius checklist entry
OregonFlora: Astragalus riparius information
E-Flora BC: Astragalus riparius atlas page
CalPhotos: Astragalus riparius photos
