Astragalus hamosusL. European Milkvetch

Astragalus hamosusL. - European Milkvetch

Scientific Description:

Erect, ascending or prostrate annual up to 50 cm; stems with adpressed bifurcate hairs. Leaves 3−10(−15) cm; leaflets 6−18 mm, oblong to obovate, retuse, glabrous above, with adpressed bifurcate hairs below, 7−14-paired; stipules 5−7 mm, triangular-ovate, white-hairy. Flowers in dense 5−10-flowered spikes of subsessile flowers. Bracts 3−4 mm, linear, black-and white-hairy. Calyx 6−8 mm, tubular-campanulate, with adpressed black and white bifurcate hairs; teeth 3 mm. Corolla white or pale yellow; standard 8−10 mm. Legumes 30−60 × 2.5−3 mm, linear, ± falcate, smooth, glabrescent or with minute white adpressed hairs.

 

Flowering time: March−July.

Habitat: Fields, roadsides etc., 0−1300 m.

 

Reference:

Chamberlain DF, Matthews VA (1970). Astragalus hamosus L. In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 3: 67.

Public Description:

Astragalus hamosus, known as “European milkvetch”, is distributed in Europe, Mediterranean to Armenia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. It is an annual plant with white or pale yellow flowers, and grows up to 50 cm in length. It blooms between March and July and is found in fields and roadsides. Milkwetches are nutritious and important plants for grazing animals.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Astragalus+hamosus//, Accessed date: 09.02.2016.

Aytaç Z, Ekici M, Akan H, (2012). Astragalus L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 427-456.