Astragalus desperatus

 Astragalus desperatus (common name - rimrock milkvetch) is a perennial plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.

Growth pattern
It is a low growing perennial plant growing from 1/2 to 4+1/2 in tall.

Leaves and stems
Compound pinnate leaves are from 1/2 to 4+1/2 in long, with 7–17 elliptical to inversely lanceolate leaflets.

Inflorescence and fruit
It blooms from March to August. The inflorescence are from stalk to 5 in tall, with multiple flowers on short stems from the stalk. Each ink to purple flower has a calyx tube that is bell-shaped and up to 1/2 in long, and petals to 1/4 in long. Seed pods are up to 3/4 in long, elliptical or curved, and covered with stiff hairs.

Habitat and range
It grows only on the Colorado Plateau (endemic) in mixed desert shrub and pinyon-juniper forest communities.