19.3 Astragalus didymocarpus Hook. & Arn. var. obispoensis (Rydb.) Jeps., Fl. Calif. 2(4): 376–377. 1936

Type:— USA, California, San Luis Obispo, 6 May 1882, Jones 3229 (holotype (fragment): NY 0011962 digital image!).

Hesperastragalus obispensis Rydb., Bull. Torrey Bot. Culb 53(3): 167–168. 1926.— Astragalus dispermus A. Gray var. obispensis (Rydb.) Tidest., Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 50(7): 21. 1937.

Characteristics as in the key. *** R. Moran 23068 (CAS).

Distribution:— From La Rumorosa to San Quintín and west of the Cerro Matomi. Also in south of California, Los Angeles to San Diego into the USA (Fig. 5).

Habitat:— Granitic, clay and gravelly soils; stony clay soil; small dry meadows; plains; valleys and mountain slopes; cleared and burned areas; open rocky slopes; terraces with scattered mezquite, jojoba, cacti; common with creosote bush; areas with juniperus-ine and Juniper-oak with non-thorny shrubs; cleared areas with weeds; sandy soils nea streams; grassland, open chaparral and desert scrubland; 300–1700 m.

Comments:— This is the variety with the largest flowers.

Specimens examined:—BAJA CALIFORNIA: 13 April 2001, J. Rebman 7241 (BCMEX); 10 July 1884, Baja California, H. C and C. R. Orcutt 1129 (NY) ; 12 April 1882, Valley of Palms, M. E. Jones, s.n. (NY) ; 27 May 1979, Sierra Juárez, 1.5 km NW of El Mezquite, R. Moran 27429 (NY, SD) ; 9 May 1985, S of El Condor: 0.5–2.3 miles south, R. F. Thorne 60600, W. Wisura (CAS) ; 1 April 1962, Near Kilometer 142.5, 7.5 miles north of Santo Tomás, P. H. Raven 17051 (CAS) ; 9 April 1973, Valley 1 mile north-west of El Pedregoso, R. Moran 20385 (NY) ; 15 May 1977, Sierra Juáez, 5 km W of La Rumorosa, R. Moran 24075 (NY) ; 8 May 1982, Sierra Juarez, 2 km SSE of El Cóndor, open stony ground, R. Moran 30582 (CAS, SD) ; 9 May 1982, Sierra Juarez. 2 km west of El Retiro and 11 km +/- SW of La Rumorosa, R. Moran 30636 (CAS, SD) ; 3 May 1976, R. Sierra San Pedro Martir, west slope of Cerro Blanco, Moran 23077 (CAS, SD) ; 3 May 1976, Sierra San Pedro Martir, Llano el Conejo, 7 km SW of San Antonio, R. Moran 23068 (CAS, ENCB, NY, SD) ; 2 May 1976, R. Moran Sierra Juarez, north slope of Cerro Taraizo, southernmost peak of range, in semishade, 23016 (CAS, SD); 22 June 1980, Sierra Juarez, 4 km NNW of Los Pantalones, R. Moran 28878 (CAS, SD) ; 24 May 1975, Sierra Juarez, El Progreso, R. Moran 22032 (ENCB, NY, SD) ; 13 May 1982, Cañón la Presa, 25 km SE of Tijuana, on open steep south slope, R. Moran 30679 (CAS, SD) ; 1 April 1979, South side of Valle las Palmas above La Esperanza, on terrace R. Moran 26862 (CAS, SD) ; 14 April 1979, Sierra Juarez, on rocky SE slope, 2 km NNE of Jacumé, R. Moran 26985 (CAS, SD) ; 14 April 1979, Sierra Juarez, 1 km SW of El Fierro & 5 kn SE of Jacumé, R. Moran 27005 (CAS, MEXU, SD) ; 15 April 1979, Sierra Juarez, 0.5 km south of El Condor, in cleared area, R. Moran 27026 (CAS, SD) ; 28 May 1979, Sierra Juarez, 6 km SE of San Pedro, in small dry meadow, R. Moran 27512 (CAS, SD) ; 2 June 1975, San Isidoro, in sandy soil near stream, R. Moran 22326 (CAS, SD) ; 30 May 1982, Sierra Juarez, Rancho San Francisco, 6 km south of La Rumorosa, in broad sandy arroyo, R. Moran 30818 (CAS, SD) ; 3 May 1976, El Coyote, in openings, R. Moran 23084 (CAS, ENCB, NY, SD) ; 19 April 1980, 7 km SSW of Ojos Negros, cleared field, valley floor, R. Moran 28262 (CAS, NY, SD) .