Astracantha

Astragalus
A. lentiginosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Galegeae
Subtribe:	Astragalinae
Genus:	Astragalus L.
Type species
Astragalus onobrychis L.
Synonyms
Acanthophaca Nevski Aragallus Neck. ex Greene Astenolobium Nevski Astracantha Podlech Atelophragma Rydb. Barnebyella Podlech Batidophaca Rydb. Biserrula L. Brachyphragma Rydb. Cnemidophacos Rydb. Contortuplicata Medik. Cryptorrhynchus Nevski Ctenophyllum Rydb. Cystium Steven Didymopelta Regel & Schmalh. Diholcos Rydb. Diplotheca Hochst. Erophaca Boiss. Geoprumnon Rydb. Gynophoraria Rydb. Hamosa Medik. Hedyphylla Steven Hesperastragalus A. Heller Hesperonix Rydb. Holcophacos Rydb. Homalobus Nutt. Jonesiella Rydb. Kentrophyta Nutt. Kiapasia Woronow ex Grossh. Lonchophaca Rydb. Microphacos Rydb. Myctirophora Nevski Mystirophora Nevski Neodielsia Harms Oedicephalus Nevski Onix Medik. Orophaca (Torr. & A. Gray) Britton Oxyglottis (Bunge) Nevski Phaca L. Phacomene Rydb. Phacopsis Rydb. Phyllolobium Fisch. ex Spreng. Pisophaca Rydb. Podlechiella Maassoumi & Kaz. Osaloo Poecilocarpus Nevski Pterophacos Rydb. Sewerzowia Regel & Schmalh. Thium Steud. Tragacantha Mill. Xylophacos Rydb.

Astragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species 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. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milkvetch (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species) and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, 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 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.

The natural gum tragacanth is made from several species of Astragalus occurring in the Middle East, including A. adscendens, A. gummifer, A. brachycalyx, and A. tragacanthus. Also Astragalus propinquus (syn. A. membranaceus) has a history of use as a herbal medicine used in systems of traditional Chinese medicine and Persian medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine A. membranaceus has been used to reinforce qi and strengthen the superficial resistance, and promote the discharge of pus and the growth of new tissue.

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Wikipedia