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Several workers have suggested that species with restricted ranges and few individuals are more likely to be self‐compatible and to exhibit low levels of inbreeding depression than are geographically widespread congeners. To investigate these predicted patterns, controlled pollinations were performed in the field on populations of two restricted and two widespread species of Astragalus. All four species are xerophytic perennials which have similar floral size and morphology. Both restricted A. linifolius and restricted A. osterhouti are self‐compatible, and A. linifolius is moderately autogamous. Widespread A. lonchocarpus is self‐compatible, but widespread A. pectinatus is essentially self‐incompatible. Neither the restricted nor the widespread species exhibited evidence of fecundity components of inbreeding depression (as measured by percent seed set and percent embryo abortion). Seedlings of A. linifolius and …