Astragalus

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Astragalus >

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Read about Astragalus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Astragalus (ancient Greek name of some shrub). Leguminosae. Milk Vetch. Hardy herbs or sub- shrubs, now and then seen in plantings. Leaves mostly odd-pinnate, sometimes simple: fls. in spikes or racemes, yellow, purple or white; calyx tubular, its teeth nearly equal; petals clawed, the standard erect; stamens in 2 clusters, the anthers similar: pods fleshy, leathery or papery, not much swollen, as they are in the membranous-fegumed Phaca, the nearest relative. —About 1,500 species. Many kinds are cult, in the Old World, but those described below are the only kinds commonly sold in Amer. The loco-weed of the prairies, which is said to poison cattle, is A. mollissimus. For those below and many others, the student is referred to Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora, Nelson's Manual of Rocky Mountain Botany, and Rydberg's Flora of Colorado. The botanical characters arc mostly found in the pods. Astragaluses prefer a light, porous soil and no shade. The dwarfer kinds may be placed in the front of the border or in the rockery. Propagation is chiefly by seeds, which germinate slowly, or by careful division in early spring. Many kinds are likely to die if divided or transplanted, as they are mycorrhizal plants, much dependent on a semi- parasitic organism, which is better left undisturbed. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

This article is about the plant genus. The talus bone of the ankle is also sometimes called the Astragalus.

? Astragalus
Astragalus centralpinus
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Galegeae Genus: Astragalus L.
Species
See text.

Astragalus (As-trá-ga-lus) is a large genus of about 2,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milk-vetch (most species) and goat's-thorn (A. gummifera, A. tragacanthus). Some pale-flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like.

Astragalus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the following case-bearers of the genus Coleophora: C. astragalella (feeds exclusively on A. glycyphyllos), C. cartilaginella (feeds exclusively on Astragalus), C. colutella, C. euryaula (feeds exclusively on Astragalus), C. gallipennella (feeds exclusively on A. glycyphyllos), C. hippodromica (feeds exclusively on A. gombo), C. onobrychiella (feeds exclusively on Astragalus), C. polonicella (feeds exclusively on A. arenarius) and C. vicinella.

Selected species

Astragalus adsurgens Astragalus agrestis Astragalus alopecuroides Astragalus alpinus Astragalus angustifolius Astragalus arenarius Astragalus aristatus Astragalus atropilosulus Astragalus baionensis Astragalus barrii Astragalus bibullatus Astragalus bisulcatus Astragalus boeticus Astragalus canadensis Astragalus centralpinus Astragalus christianus Astragalus cicer Astragalus coccineus

Astragalus crassicarpus Astragalus danicus Astragalus depressus Astragalus echinus Astragalus eriocarpus Astragalus exscapus Astragalus frigidus Astragalus galegiformis Astragalus gilviflorus Astragalus glycyphyllos Astragalus gummifera Astragalus hypoglottis Astragalus lemmonii Astragalus leontinus Astragalus lusitanicus Astragalus lotoides Astragalus massiliensis Astragalus membranaceus

Astragalus missouriensis Astragalus monspessulanus Astragalus newberryi Astragalus norvegicus Astragalus nuttallii Astragalus onobrychis Astragalus penduliflorus Astragalus purshii Astragalus sempervirens Astragalus shinanensis Astragalus shiroumaensis Astragalus sirinicus Astragalus spatulatus Astragalus trichopodus Astragalus tridactylus Astragalus tragacanthus

Medicinal use

Astragalus membranaceus, or huángqí (黄芪, literally "yellow leader"; also called běiqí, 北芪, literally "northern leader") is a tonic herb originally used in Chinese medicine. It is believed to be a galactagogue, and recent studies show that it may strengthen the human immune system.

The natural gum tragacanth, which is used in pharmaceuticals and textiles, is obtained from Astragalus tragacanthus. It is claimed to help the immune system, and to increase the body's resistance to common viruses.

In western herbal medicine, Astragalus is primarily considered a tonic for enhancing metabolism and digestion and is consumed as a tea made from the roots of the plant. It is also traditionally used to strengthen the immune system and in the healing of wounds and injuries[[1]].

The biotech company Geron Corporation has determined that a molecule from this plant called TA-65 is a telomerase activator. According to PRNewswire, TA Sciences, has a license from Geron to sell TA-65 and is now selling it as a neutraceutical anti-aging product at their TA Sciences Center in New York City. [2]

Traditional use of huang qi (radix astragali)

• Replenishes the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach
• Causes the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach to Ascend
• Benefits the Qi and consolidates the surface, controls sweating
• Promotes urination and disperses swelling caused by a deficiency pattern
• Promotes the discharge of pus and speeds healing
• Tonifies and nourishes the Qi and Blood
• Used for Wasting and Thirsting syndrome (diabetes)

It enters the Lung and Spleen meridians and its properties are Sweet and Slightly Warm

Contraindications: Deficient Yin with Heat, Exterior Excess Heat Notes: Prepare with Honey to tonify Spleen and Stomach Qi, with wine to tonify the essence or with salt to tonify the Kidneys.

Ornamental use

Several species, including A. alpinus (bluish-purple flowers), A. hypoglottis (purple flowers) and A. lotoides, are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.

External references

• Astragalus
• Medicinal uses of Astragalus in Armenia
• Astragalus Supplements
• Astralagus information