Description: Low tufted perennial herb, to 2 cm (0.8 in.) tall, densely pubescent throughout with pick-shaped silvery hairs up to 1.2 mm long. Stems prostrate, very short, to 2 cm (0.8 in.) or exceptionally long to 7 cm (2.8 in.); internodes also short. Leaves 4 - 7 cm (1.6 - 2.8 in.) long; leaflets 11 - 17, to 7 mm (0.3 in.) long. Inflorescence a raceme with 5 - 9 flowers, flowering stalks 4 - 8 cm (1.6 - 3.2 in.) long. Flowers bilateral (pea-like); sepals fused, with white and some black hairs; petals pink-purple, with a large upper petal 10 -13 mm (0.5 in.) long. Fruit a pod, ascending or incurved-ascending, 1.5 - 2 cm (0.6 - 0.8 in.) long, compressed, with a central ridge on the lower surface that is situated in a double groove. Valves of pod densely pubescent with appressed hairs, leathery and brownish. Time of flowering: April to June.
Habitat: Found on alluvial gravels, gentle slopes, roadsides, and disturbed areas in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, blackbrush, and salt desert scrub communities. Elevations: 1,341 - 1,829 m (4,400 - 6,000 ft).
Range: Clark and Lincoln counties, Nevada. Known to occur in the Sheep, Las Vegas, Desert and East Desert ranges. Also known from Mohave County, Arizona.
Comments: Separated from other milkvetch species by the shape of the pods. Formerly known as Astragalus musimonum.