Astragalus

plant genus

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June 18, 2026

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Astragalus is a genus of annual or perennial leguminous herbs native to north temperate regions. These plants are commonly known as milk vetch. The name "milk vetch" comes from the popular belief that these plants increase the milk yield of goats.1

The dried root of an Asian milk vetch, specifically Astragalus membranaceus, is used in Chinese herbal medicine as a remedy. This genus name, Astragalus, was borrowed from Greek, where it referred to a neck vertebra, the ball of the ankle joint, and also milk vetch, possibly due to the vertebrae-like appearance of its flower clusters.2

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Fabales
Faboideae
The largest genus of legumes, Astragalus (2,400–3,300 species, known as locoweed), is mainly western North American but also occurs in Eurasia, India, Africa, and South America. These temperate legumes have mostly pinnate leaves among which those with three leaflets (trifoliolate) are common—e.g., beans and soybeans. Trifoliolate leaves rarely occur in…
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The largest genus of legumes, Astragalus (2,400–3,300 species, known as locoweed), is mainly western North American but also occurs in Eurasia, India, Africa, and South America. These temperate legumes have mostly pinnate leaves among which those with three leaflets (trifoliolate) are common—e.g., beans and soybeans. Trifoliolate leaves rarely occur in…
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gum
…several shrubs of the genus Astragalus, principally Astragalus gummifer, native to the arid regions of Iran, Asia Minor, and Greece. The exudate is produced spontaneously on the bark of the shrub, but the yield may be increased by making an incision and driving wooden wedges into it. One of the…
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…several shrubs of the genus Astragalus, principally Astragalus gummifer, native to the arid regions of Iran, Asia Minor, and Greece. The exudate is produced spontaneously on the bark of the shrub, but the yield may be increased by making an incision and driving wooden wedges into it. One of the…
Read More