Syn.: Aragallus podocarpus (A. Gray) A. Nelson, Spiesia podocarpa (A. Gray) Kuntze
Family: Fabaceae Lindl.

Oxytropis podocarpa

Distribution: Arctic and alpine areas of North America, in northern Canada in Nunavut and to the east to Labrador and southward along the Rocky Mountains to Colorado.

Ecology: Grows in tundra, dry rocky slopes, in elevations 15 to 2700 m. Blooms in June and July.

Oxyptropis podocarpa

Description: Perennial herb, stems prostrate to erect, 1–7 cm long. Leaves alternate, petiolate, odd-pinnate, 2–5 cm long, 9–25 leaflets, linear to lanceolate, 2–8 mm long, silvery hairy. Inflorescence 1–3 flowered raceme, peduncular, calyx 2/3 of corolla length, corolla bluish to purple with contrasty markings. Fruit inflated, ovoid legume with pointy tip, 1.5–3 cm long.

Oxytropis podocarpa
Oxytropis podocarpa
Oxytropis podocarpa

These images were taken in Canada, Alberta, Plateau Mountain (July 2011).