milk vetch

American  

noun

1. a European plant, Astragalus glycyphyllos, of the legume family, believed to increase the secretion of milk in goats.

2. any herb of certain allied genera.

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milk vetch British  

noun

1. any of various leguminous plants of the genus Astragalus, esp A. glycyphyllos, with clusters of purple, white, or yellowish flowers: formerly reputed to increase milk production in goats

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Etymology

Origin of milk vetch

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

That specificity poses a problem: Deerweed and milk vetch are disturbance plants, which means they require some kind of soil disturbance — like fire — to sprout and outgrow the other plants around them.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2023

Where Carol imagines a wrought iron accent bench in the backyard, Diane intends a primeval forest of pawpaw and milk vetch.

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2019

The caterpillars feed upon the leaves of oak and Astragalus or milk vetch.

From Butterflies Worth Knowing by Weed, Clarence M.