Astragalus cicer

by Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana

Common Name(s)

Cicer milkvetch, Chickpea milkvetch

Synonym(s)

Cystium cicer, Astragaloides cicera, Astragalus cicer var. angustifolius, Astragalus cicer var. dieffenbachii, Astragalus microphyllus, Astragalus mucronatus, Astragalus pseudocicer, Astragalus vesicarius

Is this plant a cultivar? No

Life History: Perennial

Growth Form: forb

Native Range

Temperate Asia and Europe
Asia-Temperate
Caucasus: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; Russian Federation - Checheno-Ingushetia, - Dagestan, - Kabardino-Balkaria, - Karachay-Cherkessia, - North Ossetia, - Krasnodar, - Stavropol
Siberia: Russian Federation - Kurgan, - Sverdlovsk
Western Asia: Turkey
Europe
East Europe: Belarus; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; Moldova; Russian Federation-European part - European part; Ukraine
Middle Europe: Austria; Belgium; Czechoslovakia; Germany; Hungary; Poland; Switzerland
Southeastern Europe: Bulgaria; Former Yugoslavia; Italy; Romania
Southwestern Europe: France; Spain

Plant Description

Astragalus cicer is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae family which grows from 3 to 7 decimeters tall. It has compound leaves with 5 to 35 leaflets and stipules sheathing at the bases. The inflorescence has 6 to 30 white flowers, the calyx and ovary are covered with white and black hairs, and the pods are inflated in fruit. It is found in moist grassy areas to open woodland and disturbed areas (Jepson eFlora).

History as an Ornamental

Available as seed for pasture improvement, hay production and erosion control. Also used as a bee plant and for medicinal purposes (GRIN).

External Resources

GBIF Link

GBIF Species Page

USDA Plants Database

USDA Plants Database page

Tropicos Link

Tropicos Species Page

U.S. National Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)

US National Germplasm Database

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Images

by Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana
image info