Astragalus (plant)

{{Short description|Genus of legumes}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Borrego Milkvetch up close.jpg |image_caption = ''A. lentiginosus'' |display_parents = 3 |taxon = Astragalus |authority = L. |type_species = ''Astragalus onobrychis''{{Disputed inline|Type species?|date=December 2018}} |type_species_authority = L. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = Over 3,000 species, see list of ''Astragalus'' species |synonyms = {{hidden begin}} * ''Acanthophaca'' Nevski * ''Acanthyllis'' Pomel * ''Ailuroschia'' Steven * ''Alopecias'' Steven * ''Ammodytes'' Steven * ''Anaphragma'' Steven * ''Ankylobus'' Steven * ''Astenolobium'' Nevski * ''Astracantha'' Podlech * ''Astragalina'' Bubani * ''Astragaloides'' Adans. * ''Atelophragma'' Rydb. * ''Aulosema'' Walp. * ''Barnebyella'' Podlech * ''Batidophaca'' Rydb. * ''Brachyphragma'' Rydb. * ''Caryolobium'' Steven * ''Chondrocarpus'' Steven * ''Cnemidophacos'' Rydb. * ''Contortuplicata'' Medik. * ''Craccina'' Steven * ''Cryptorrhynchus'' Nevski * ''Ctenophyllum'' Rydb. * ''Cymbicarpos'' Steven * ''Cystium'' Steven * ''Cystopora'' Lunell * ''Didymopelta'' Regel & Schmalh. * ''Diholcos'' Rydb. * ''Dipelta'' Regel & Schmalh. * ''Diplotheca'' Hochst. * ''Euilus'' Steven * ''Euprepia'' Steven * ''Feidanthus'' Steven * ''Geoprumnon'' Rydb. * ''Glandula'' Medik. * ''Glaux'' Hill * ''Glottis'' Medik. * ''Glycyphylla'' Steven * ''Gynophoraria'' Rydb. * ''Halicacabus'' (Bunge) Nevski * ''Hamaria'' Fourr. * ''Hamosa'' Medik. * ''Hedyphylla'' Steven * ''Hesperastragalus'' A.Heller * ''Hesperonix'' Rydb. * ''Hippomanica'' Molina * ''Holcophacos'' Rydb. * ''Homalobus'' Nutt. * ''Hypoglottis'' Fourr. * ''Jonesiella'' Rydb. * ''Kentrophyta'' Nutt. * ''Kirchnera'' Opiz * ''Lithoon'' Nevski * ''Lonchophaca'' Rydb. * ''Macrosema'' Steven * ''Medyphylla'' Opiz * ''Microphacos'' Rydb. * ''Myctirophora'' Nevski * ''Myobroma'' Steven * ''Neodielsia'' Harms * ''Oedicephalus'' Nevski * ''Onix'' Medik. * ''Onyx'' Medik. * ''Ophiocarpus'' (Bunge) Ikonn. * ''Orophaca'' Britton{{#tag:ref|This may actually be a valid genus.|name="Valid"|group=Note}} * ''Oxyglottis'' (Bunge) Nevski * ''Pedina'' Steven * ''Phaca'' L. * ''Phacomene'' Rydb. * ''Phacopsis'' Rydb. * ''Philammos'' Steven * ''Physondra'' Raf. * ''Picraena'' Steven * ''Pisophaca'' Rydb. * ''Podochrea'' Fourr. * ''Poecilocarpus'' Nevski * ''Proselias'' Steven * ''Psychridium'' Steven * ''Pterophacos'' Rydb. * ''Rydbergiella'' Fedde & Syd. ex Rydb. * ''Saccocalyx'' Steven * ''Sewerzowia'' Regel & Schmalh. * ''Solenotus'' Steven * ''Stella'' Medik. * ''Tium'' Medik. * ''Tragacantha'' Mill. * ''Triquetra'' Medik. * ''Xerophysa'' Steven * ''Xylophacos'' Rydb. {{hidden end}} |synonyms_ref =<ref>{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330028-2 |title=Astragalus L. |author= |date=2017 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=6 July 2020 }}</ref> }} [[File:Astragalus hamosus MHNT.BOT.2007.40.117.jpg|thumb|Fruits and seeds of ''Astragalus hamosus'']]

'''''Astragalus''''' is a large genus of over 3,000 species<ref name=powo>{{cite web |title=''Astragalus'' L. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330028-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref> of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae and the subfamily Faboideae. It is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/4135449 |jstor=4135449 |title=History and Concepts of Big Plant Genera |journal=Taxon |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=753–76 |year=2004 |last=Frodin |first=David G.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Moonlight |first=Peter W. |last2=Baldaszti |first2=Ludwig |last3=Cardoso |first3=Domingos |last4=Elliott |first4=Alan |last5=Särkinen |first5=Tiina |last6=Knapp |first6=Sandra |date=2024 |title=Twenty years of big plant genera |url=https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.0702 |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |language=en |volume=291 |issue=2023 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2024.0702 |issn=0962-8452|pmc=11285793 }}</ref> The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include '''milkvetch''' (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rootcellar.us/wildflowers/astrag.htm |title=''Astragalus'' (Locoweed) flowers |publisher=Rootcellar.us |access-date=2013-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113201810/http://www.rootcellar.us/wildflowers/astrag.htm |archive-date=2013-11-13 }}</ref> and '''goat's-thorn''' (''A. gummifer'', ''A. tragacantha''). Some pale-flowered vetches (''Vicia'' spp.) are similar in appearance, but they are more vine-like than ''Astragalus''.

==Description== Most species in the genus have pinnately compound leaves.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Taylor|first=Ronald J.|title=Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary|publisher=Mountain Press Pub. Co|year=1994|isbn=0-87842-280-3|edition=rev.|location=Missoula, MT|pages=100|language=en|oclc=25708726|orig-date=1992}}</ref> There are annual and perennial species. The flowers are formed in clusters in a raceme, each flower typical of the legume family, with three types of petals: banner, wings, and keel. The calyx is tubular or bell-shaped.<ref name=foc>{{eFloras|2|102978|volume=10|Astragalus |last1=Xu |first1=Langran |first2=Dietrich |last2=Podlech |access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Guide to the Common Locoweeds and Milkvetches of New Mexico |url=https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR557/ |website=aces.nmsu.edu |publisher=New Mexico State University |access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref>

==Taxonomy== The genus was formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his ''Species Plantarum''.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Astragalus'' L. |url=https://beta.ipni.org/n/330028-2 |website=ipni.org |publisher=International Plant Names Index |access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref>

The name ''Astragalus'' is Greek, an old name for this group of plants which were believed to have a positive effect on goat milk production.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Gerould |last2=Rericha |first2=Laura |date=2017 |title=Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis |publisher=Indiana Academy of Sciences}}</ref>

===Selected species=== {{Main|List of Astragalus species}}

{{Columns-list| * ''Astragalus acutirostris'' – sharpkeel milkvetch * ''Astragalus agnicidus'' – Humboldt County milkvetch * ''Astragalus agrestis'' – field milkvetch, purple milkvetch, cock's-head * ''Astragalus albens'' – Cushenbury milkvetch * ''Astragalus alpinus'' – alpine milkvetch, mountain locoweed * ''Astragalus amphioxys'' – crescent milkvetch * ''Astragalus ampullarioides'' – Shivwits milkvetch * ''Astragalus andersonii'' – Anderson's milkvetch * ''Astragalus anemophilus'' – San Quintin Dune milkvetch * ''Astragalus anisus'' - Gunnison milkvetch * ''Astragalus annularis'' * ''Astragalus anserinus'' – Goose Creek milkvetch * ''Astragalus anxius'' – troubled milkvetch * ''Astragalus applegatei'' – Applegate's milkvetch * ''Astragalus arrectus'' – Palouse milkvetch * ''Astragalus asymmetricus'' – San Joaquin milkvetch * ''Astragalus atropilosulus'' * ''Astragalus austiniae'' – Austin's milkvetch * ''Astragalus australis'' – Indian milkvetch * ''Astragalus azizi'' – Iranian milkvetch * ''Astragalus barrii'' – Barr's milkvetch * ''Astragalus bernardinus'' – San Bernardino milkvetch * ''Astragalus bibullatus'' – limestone-glade milkvetch * ''Astragalus bicristatus'' – crested milkvetch, two-crested milkvetch * ''Astragalus bidentatus'' * ''Astragalus bisulcatus'' – two-groove milkvetch * ''Astragalus boeticus'' – kaffevedel (Swedish)<ref>{{cite web|date=2018|title=Astragalus boeticus L. |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?5727|website=USDA - Agricultural Research Service National Plant Germplasm System GRIN-Taxonomy |location=Beltsville, Maryland|access-date=17 September 2018|archive-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105425/https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?5727 }}</ref> * ''Astragalus alopecurus'' * ''Astragalus bolanderi'' – Bolander's milkvetch * ''Astragalus brachycalyx'' * ''Astragalus brauntonii'' – Braunton's milkvetch * ''Astragalus breweri'' – Brewer's milkvetch * ''Astragalus californicus'' – California milkvetch * ''Astragalus canadensis'' – Canadian milkvetch * ''Astragalus casei'' – Case's milkvetch * ''Astragalus cavanillesii'' * ''Astragalus cicer'' – wild lentil, chickpea milkvetch * ''Astragalus cimae'' – Cima milkvetch * ''Astragalus claranus'' – Clara Hunt's milkvetch, Napa milkvetch * ''Astragalus clevelandii'' – Cleveland's milkvetch * ''Astragalus coccineus'' – scarlet milkvetch, scarlet locoweed * ''Astragalus congdonii'' – Congdon's milkvetch * ''Astragalus cremnophylax'' – Sentry milkvetch * ''Astragalus crotalariae'' – Salton milkvetch * ''Astragalus curtipes'' – Morro milkvetch * ''Astragalus danicus'' – purple milkvetch * ''Astragalus deanei'' – Deane's milkvetch, Dean's milkvetch * ''Astragalus desereticus'' – Deseret milkvetch * ''Astragalus didymocarpus'' – two-seeded milkvetch, dwarf white milkvetch, white dwarf locoweed * ''Astragalus distortus'' – Ozark milkvetch * ''Astragalus douglasii'' – Douglas's milkvetch * ''Astragalus ehrenbergii'' * ''Astragalus ertterae'' – Walker Pass milkvetch * ''Astragalus falcatus'' - Russian milkvetch, sickle milkvetch, sicklepod milkvetch, silverleaf milkvetch, Russian-sickle * ''Astragalus filipes'' – basalt milkvetch * ''Astragalus funereus'' – Funeral Mountain milkvetch * ''Astragalus gambelianus'' – Gambel's dwarf milkvetch, dwarf locoweed * ''Astragalus gibbsii'' – Gibbs's milkvetch * ''Astragalus gilmanii'' – Gilman's milkvetch * ''Astragalus glycyphyllos'' – wild liquorice, licorice milkvetch * ''Astragalus harbisonii'' - Punta Baja milkvetch * ''Astragalus holmgreniorum'' – Holmgren locoweed * ''Astragalus humillimus'' – Mancos milkvetch * ''Astragalus hypoxylus'' – Huachuca Mountain milkvetch * ''Astragalus inversus'' – Susanville milkvetch * ''Astragalus inyoensis'' – Inyo milkvetch * ''Astragalus iselyi'' – Isely's milkvetch * ''Astragalus jaegerianus'' – Lane Mountain milkvetch * ''Astragalus johannis-howellii'' – Long Valley milkvetch * ''Astragalus kentrophyta'' – spiny milkvetch * ''Astragalus layneae'' – widow's milkvetch * ''Astragalus lemmonii'' – Lemmon's milkvetch * ''Astragalus lentiformis'' – lens pod milkvetch * ''Astragalus lentiginosus'' – freckled milkvetch, mottled locoweed, speckled locoweed, spotted locoweed ** ''Astragalus lentiginosus'' var. ''iodanthus'' – Humboldt River milkvetch ** ''Astragalus lentiginosus'' var. ''pseudiodanthus'' – Tonopah milkvetch * ''Astragalus leontinus'' – Tyrolean milkvetch * ''Astragalus leptaleus'' * ''Astragalus leucolobus'' – Bear Valley woollypod, Bear Valley milkvetch * ''Astragalus limnocharis'' ** ''Astragalus limnocharis'' var. ''montii'' – Monti's milkvetch * ''Astragalus linifolius'' – Grand Junction milkvetch * ''Astragalus loanus'' – Glenwood milkvetch * ''Astragalus lotoides'' * ''Astragalus malacus'' – shaggy milkvetch * ''Astragalus microcymbus'' – Skiff milkvetch * ''Astragalus miguelensis'' – San Miguel milkvetch * ''Astragalus missouriensis'' – Missouri milkvetch * ''Astragalus mohavensis'' – Mojave milkvetch * ''Astragalus molybdenus'' - Leadville milkvetch, molybdenum milkvetch. * ''Astragalus mongholicus'' – ''huang qi'' (黄芪/黃芪 huáng qí; běi qí 北芪) Mongolian milkvetch * ''Astragalus monoensis'' – Mono milkvetch * ''Astragalus monspessulanus'' - Montpellier milkvetch * ''Astragalus mulfordiae'' – Mulford's milkvetch * ''Astragalus nevinii'' – San Clemente Island milkvetch * ''Astragalus newberryi'' – Newberry's milkvetch * ''Astragalus nitidiflorus'' – Tallante's milkvetch * ''Astragalus nutans'' – Providence Mountains milkvetch * ''Astragalus nuttallianus'' – small-flowered milkvetch * ''Astragalus nuttallii'' – Nuttall's milkvetch * ''Astragalus obscurus'' – arcane milkvetch * ''Astragalus onobrychis'' * ''Astragalus oocarpus'' – Descanso milkvetch, San Diego milkvetch * ''Astragalus oophorus'' – egg milkvetch * ''Astragalus osterhoutii'' – Osterhout milkvetch * ''Astragalus oxyphysus'' – Mt. Diablo milkvetch, Diablo locoweed * ''Astragalus pachypus'' – thickpod milkvetch * ''Astragalus panamintensis'' – panamint milkvetch * ''Astragalus pauperculus'' – depauperate milkvetch * ''Astragalus phoenix'' – Ash Meadows milkvetch * ''Astragalus platytropis'' – broadkeel milkvetch * ''Astragalus pomonensis'' – Pomona milkvetch, Pomona locoweed * ''Astragalus proimanthus'' – precocious milkvetch * ''Astragalus proximus'' - Aztec milkvetch * ''Astragalus pulsiferae'' – Ames's milkvetch * ''Astragalus purshii'' – Pursh's milkvetch, Woollypod milkvetch, woollypod locoweed * ''Astragalus pycnostachyus'' – Marsh milkvetch * ''Astragalus rattanii'' – Rattan's milkvetch * ''Astragalus ripleyi'' - Ripley's milkvetch * ''Astragalus robbinsii'' – Robbins's milkvetch * ''Astragalus sabulonum'' – gravel milkvetch * ''Astragalus sarcocolla'' * ''Astragalus scaphoides'' – bitterroot milkvetch * ''Astragalus schmolliae'' – Schmoll milkvetch * ''Astragalus shevockii'' – Shevock's milkvetch, Little Kern milkvetch * ''Astragalus sinicus'' – Chinese milkvetch, renge * ''Astragalus sinuatus'' – Whited's milkvetch * ''Astragalus soxmaniorum'' – Soxman's milkvetch * ''Astragalus subvestitus'' – Kern County milkvetch * ''Astragalus tener'' – alkali milkvetch * ''Astragalus tennesseensis'' – Tennessee milkvetch * ''Astragalus tidestromii'' – Tidestrøm's milkvetch * ''Astragalus tragacantha'' - Marseille milkvetch * ''Astragalus traskiae'' – Trask's milkvetch * ''Astragalus tricarinatus'' – triple-ribbed milkvetch * ''Astragalus trichopodus'' – Santa Barbara milkvetch, coast locoweed, Southern California locoweed * ''Astragalus tuyehensis'' from Iran * ''Astragalus tyghensis'' - Tygh Valley milkvetch * ''Astragalus umbraticus'' – Bald Mountain milkvetch * ''Astragalus webberi'' – Webber's milkvetch * ''Astragalus wetherillii'' - Wetherill's milkvetch * ''Astragalus whitneyi'' – balloon-pod milkvetch * ''Astragalus zionis'' – Zion milkvetch }}

{{Gallery |mode=packed |Astragalus testiculatus (in bloom) 2.jpg|''Astragalus testiculatus'' |Astragalus glycyphyllos Eestis.JPG|''Astragalus glycyphyllos'' |Astragalus alpinus LC0319.jpg|''Astragalus alpinus'' |Astragalus dasyanthus habitus 1.jpg|''Astragalus dasyanthus'' }}

==Ecology== ''Astragalus'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including many case-bearing moths of the genus ''Coleophora'': ''C. cartilaginella'', ''C. colutella'', ''C. euryaula'', and ''C. onobrychiella'' feed exclusively on ''Astragalus'', ''C. astragalella'' and ''C. gallipennella'' feed exclusively on the species ''Astragalus glycyphyllos'', and ''C. hippodromica'' is limited to ''Astragalus gombo''.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

==Uses== ===Traditional medicine=== Astragalus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine over centuries to treat various disorders, but there is no high-quality evidence that it is effective or safe for any medical purpose.<ref name="nccih16">{{cite web |title=Astragalus |url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/astragalus |publisher=National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=29 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Su |first1=Guobin |last2=Chen |first2=Xiankun |last3=Liu |first3=Zhuangzhu |last4=Yang |first4=Lihong |last5=Zhang |first5=La |last6=Stålsby Lundborg |first6=Cecilia |last7=Wen |first7=Zehuai |last8=Guo |first8=Xinfeng |last9=Qin |first9=Xindong |last10=Liang |first10=Jueyao |last11=Liu |first11=Xusheng |title=Oral (Huang qi) for preventing frequent episodes of acute respiratory tract infection in children |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |date=1 December 2016 |volume=2016 |issue=12 |article-number=CD011958 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD011958.pub2|pmid=27905672 |pmc=6463872 }}</ref>

===Phytochemicals and supplements=== Extracts of astragalus root include diverse phytochemicals, such as saponins and isoflavone flavonoids, which are purported in traditional practices to increase lactation in nursing mothers.<ref name="dld">{{cite journal |title=Astragalus |journal=Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health |date=3 December 2018 |pmid=30000951|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501891/}}</ref> There is no valid clinical evidence to indicate such use is effective or safe for the mother or infant.<ref name=dld/> Dietary supplement products containing astragalus extracts may not have been adequately tested for efficacy, safety, purity or consistency.<ref name=dld/> The root extracts of astragalus may be used in soups, teas or sold in capsules.<ref name=nccih16/>

===Side effects and toxicology=== Although astragalus supplements are generally well tolerated, mild gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and allergic reactions may occur.<ref name=nccih16/><ref name=dld/> Because astragalus may affect regulation of blood sugar and blood pressure, it may be risky for people with blood disorders, diabetes, or hypertension to use it as a supplement.<ref name=nccih16/> Astragalus may interact with prescribed drugs that suppress the immune system, such as medications used by people being treated for cancer or recovery from organ transplants.<ref name=nccih16/> Some astragalus species can be toxic, such as those found in the United States containing the neurotoxin swainsonine, which causes "locoweed" poisoning in animals.<ref name=nccih16/> Some astragalus species may contain high levels of selenium, possibly causing toxicity.<ref name=nccih16/> <ref name="pmid10709444">{{cite journal |vauthors=Ouazzani N, Lamnaouer D, Abdennebi EH | title = Toxicology of ''Astragalus lusitanicus'' Lam | journal = Thérapie | volume = 54 | issue = 6 | pages = 707–10 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10709444 }}</ref>

===Ornamental use=== Several species, including ''A. alpinus'' (bluish-purple flowers), ''A. hypoglottis'' (purple flowers), and ''A. lotoides'', are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

==Notes== {{Reflist|group=Note}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Astragalus}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090303204609/http://loco.biosci.arizona.edu/astragalus/astragalus_home.htm ''Astragalus''] – Genus of vascular plants * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150427073724/http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/astragalus ''Astragalus'' – Clinical summary and constituents], MSKCC Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Category:Astragalus (plant) Category:Dietary supplements Category:Fabaceae genera Category:Forages Category:Medicinal plants Category:Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus