Practical
Plants

Astragalus microcephalus

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Astragalus genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.45 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Many members of this genus contain toxic glycosides[10]. All species with edible seedpods can be distinguished by their fleshy round or oval seedpod that looks somewhat like a greengage[12]. A number of species can also accumulate toxic levels of selenium when grown in soils that are relatively rich in that element[10].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A source of a high quality gum tragacanth - used as a thickener in confections[7][8][9][2][3][5]. Some exudes naturally from the plant, more can be obtained by incision of the stem about 5cm below ground level[9].

Product or use
Gum

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Gum tragacanth is obtained from the stem (see above). It has a wide range of uses including:- a thickening agent in preparing dyes for calico printing, textile dyes and for dressing fabrics, it is also a thickener in making glues, water colours, ink (where it supplies a gloss), it is a binding agent in paper making, a culture medium in laboratories etc[9][11].

Product or use
Gum

Ecology and functions

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
W. Asia - Iraq, Turkey.
Habitat
Rocky mountain slopes. 1200 - 2600 metres in Iraq[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
low
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[6]. A period of cold stratification may help stored seed to germinate[6]. Stored seed, and perhaps also fresh seed, should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in hot water before sowing - but make sure that you do not cook the seed[4][6]. Any seed that does not swell should be carefully pricked with a needle, taking care not to damage the embryo, and re-soaked for a further 24 hours[4][6]. Germination can be slow and erratic but is usually within 4 - 9 weeks or more at 13°c if the seed is treated or sown fresh[4]. As soon as it is large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. Whilst it is likely to tolerate low temperatures it may not be so happy with a wet winter. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a dry well-drained soil in a sunny position[1]. Succeeds in poor soils[6]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and are best planted in their final positions whilst still small[6]. This plant is a sub-shrub and although it produces woody stems these tend to die back almost to the base each winter. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[6]. Many members of this genus can be difficult to grow, this may be due partly to a lack of their specific bacterial associations in the soil[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  7. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  8. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  9. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩1↩2

  11. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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  12. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

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