Astragalus (plant)

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Astragalus

A. lentiginosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Clade:	Inverted repeat-lacking clade
Tribe:	Galegeae
Subtribe:	Astragalinae
Genus:	Astragalus L.
Type species
Astragalus onobrychis^{[disputed – discuss]} L.
Species
Over 3,000 species, see list of Astragalus species
Synonyms^[1]
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^{[Note 1]} Oxyglottis (Bunge) Nevski Pedina Steven Phaca L. Phacomene Rydb. Phacopsis Rydb. Philammos Steven Physondra Raf. Picraena Steven Pisophaca Rydb. Podlechiella Maassoumi & Kaz.Osaloo^{[Note 1]} 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.

Astragalus is a large genus of over 3,000 species^[2] 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.^[3] The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milkvetch (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species)^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]^[7]

Taxonomy

The genus was formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum.^[8]

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.^[9]

Selected species

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)^[10]
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

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[11]^[12]

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.^[13] There is no valid clinical evidence to indicate such use is effective or safe for the mother or infant.^[13] Dietary supplement products containing astragalus extracts may not have been adequately tested for efficacy, safety, purity or consistency.^[13] The root extracts of astragalus may be used in soups, teas or sold in capsules.^[11]

Side effects and toxicology

Although astragalus supplements are generally well tolerated, mild gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and allergic reactions may occur.^[11]^[13] 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.^[11] 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.^[11]

Some astragalus species can be toxic, such as those found in the United States containing the neurotoxin swainsonine, which causes "locoweed" poisoning in animals.^[11] Some astragalus species may contain high levels of selenium, possibly causing toxicity.^[11]

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]}

Notes

^ ^a ^b This may actually be a valid genus.

References

^ "Astragalus L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^ "Astragalus L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
^ Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and Concepts of Big Plant Genera". Taxon. 53 (3): 753–76. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449.
^ "Astragalus (Locoweed) flowers". Rootcellar.us. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
^ Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 100. ISBN 0878422803. OCLC 25708726.
^ Xu, Langran; Podlech, Dietrich. "Astragalus". Flora of China. Vol. 10. Retrieved 9 December 2018 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
^ "A Guide to the Common Locoweeds and Milkvetches of New Mexico". aces.nmsu.edu. New Mexico State University. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
^ "Astragalus L." ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
^ Wilhelm, Gerould; Rericha, Laura (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Indiana Academy of Sciences.
^ "Astragalus boeticus L." USDA - Agricultural Research Service National Plant Germplasm System GRIN-Taxonomy. Beltsville, Maryland. 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Astragalus". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
^ Su, Guobin; Chen, Xiankun; Liu, Zhuangzhu; Yang, Lihong; Zhang, La; Stålsby Lundborg, Cecilia; Wen, Zehuai; Guo, Xinfeng; Qin, Xindong; Liang, Jueyao; Liu, Xusheng (1 December 2016). "Oral (Huang qi) for preventing frequent episodes of acute respiratory tract infection in children". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 (12): CD011958. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011958.pub2. PMC 6463872. PMID 27905672.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Astragalus". Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health. 3 December 2018. PMID 30000951.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astragalus.

Astragalus – Genus of vascular plants
Astragalus – Clinical summary and constituents, MSKCC Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Taxon identifiers

Astragalus

Wikidata: Q157184
Wikispecies: Astragalus
APDB: 188389
APNI: 108502
BioLib: 39914
CoL: 34JM
eFloraSA: Astragalus
EoL: 13451
EPPO: 1ASAG
FoC: 102978
GBIF: 2933951
GRIN: 1094
iNaturalist: 49370
IPNI: 21741-1
IRMNG: 1070691
ISC: 7233
ITIS: 25392
NBN: NHMSYS0000456260
NCBI: 20400
NZOR: b30c6c14-4659-4cf9-935b-e22b4aef78ff
Open Tree of Life: 314141
Panarctic Flora: 6305
PLANTS: ASTRA
POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330028-2
Tropicos: 40021672
VASCAN: 872
VicFlora: 8160879d-bb23-4317-95bd-b30385ef1366
WFO: wfo-4000003460

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