Astragalus facts for kids

This page is about the plant genus. For the ankle bone, see Talus bone.

Quick facts for kids Astragalus

A. lentiginosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Galegeae
Subtribe:	Astragalinae
Genus:	*Astragalus* L.
Type species
Astragalus onobrychis L.
Species
Over 3,000 species, see List of Astragalus species
Synonyms
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 Oxyglottis (Bunge) Nevski Pedina Steven Phaca L. Phacomene Rydb. Phacopsis Rydb. Philammos Steven Physondra Raf. Picraena Steven Pisophaca Rydb. Podlechiella Maassoumi & Kaz.Osaloo 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.

Fruits and seeds of Astragalus hamosus

Astragalus is a huge group of plants with over 3,000 different types, called species. These plants can be small herbs or tiny shrubs. They belong to the legume family, which is known for plants like peas and beans. In fact, Astragalus is the largest group of plants in the world when it comes to the number of species!

You can find Astragalus plants in cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Some common names for these plants are milkvetch, locoweed (especially in North America for some types), and goat's-thorn. While some pale-flowered vetches might look similar, Astragalus plants are usually less like vines.

What Does Astragalus Look Like?
- Flowers and Their Structure
Where Does Astragalus Grow?
The Name Astragalus
Different Kinds of Astragalus Species
How People Use Astragalus
Images for kids
See also

What Does Astragalus Look Like?

Most Astragalus species have leaves made up of many smaller leaflets, arranged like a feather. Some types of Astragalus live for only one year (annual), while others live for many years (perennial).

Flowers and Their Structure

The flowers of Astragalus grow in clusters along a stem, forming a shape called a raceme. Each flower looks like a typical legume flower. It has three main types of petals:

A large, upright petal called the banner.
Two side petals called wings.
Two bottom petals that are joined together, forming a "keel" that often looks like the front of a boat.

The green cup-like part that holds the petals, called the calyx, is shaped like a tube or a bell.

Where Does Astragalus Grow?

Astragalus plants are an important food source for the larvae (caterpillars) of many types of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). For example, several kinds of case-bearing moths, like C. cartilaginella and C. onobrychiella, eat only Astragalus plants. Other moths, like C. astragalella, specifically feed on Astragalus glycyphyllos.

The Name Astragalus

The name Astragalus comes from the Greek word for these plants. People in ancient times believed that these plants helped goats produce more milk.

Different Kinds of Astragalus Species

There are over 3,000 species of Astragalus! Here are just a few examples:

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 anisus
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)
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 centralpinus
Astragalus cicer – wild lentil, chickpea milkvetch
Astragalus cimae – Cima milkvetch
Astragalus clarianus – 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
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 holmgreniorum – Holmgren locoweed
Astragalus humillimus – Mancos milkvetch
Astragalus hypoxylus – Huachuca Mountain milkvetch
Astragalus inversus – Susanville milkvetch
Astragalus inyoensis – Inyo milkvetch
Astragalus iodanthus – Humboldt River 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 leptaleus
Astragalus leucolobus – Bear Valley woollypod, Bear Valley 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
Astragalus monoensis – Mono milkvetch
Astragalus monspessulanus
Astragalus montii
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 propinquus – huang qi (黄芪/黃芪 huáng qí; běi qí 北芪)
Astragalus proximus
Astragalus pseudiodanthus – Tonopah 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
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 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
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
Astragalus umbraticus – Bald Mountain milkvetch
Astragalus webberi – Webber's milkvetch
Astragalus wetherillii
Astragalus whitneyi – balloon-pod milkvetch
Astragalus zionis – Zion milkvetch

How People Use Astragalus

Some Astragalus species have been used by people for different purposes.

Traditional Uses

For hundreds of years, some types of Astragalus have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, it's important to know that there isn't strong scientific proof that it works or is safe for medical uses.

Supplements and Plant Chemicals

The roots of Astragalus plants contain natural chemicals called phytochemicals, like saponins and flavonoids. In traditional practices, some people believed these chemicals could help nursing mothers produce more milk. But again, there's no clear scientific evidence that this is true or safe for mothers or babies.

You might find Astragalus root extracts in soups, teas, or in capsules. When buying supplements, remember that they might not have been fully tested for how well they work, if they are safe, or if they are pure.

Important Safety Information

While many Astragalus supplements are generally fine for most people, some mild side effects can happen. These include an upset stomach, diarrhea, or allergic reactions.

It's also important to be careful because Astragalus might affect your blood sugar and blood pressure. So, if someone has conditions like blood disorders, diabetes, or hypertension (high blood pressure), using Astragalus as a supplement might not be safe. It could also affect medicines that weaken the immune system, like those used for cancer treatment or after an organ transplant.

Some Astragalus species can be toxic (poisonous). For example, some types found in the United States have a chemical that can make animals sick. Other species might have high levels of selenium, which can also be harmful if too much is consumed.

Astragalus in Gardens

Some beautiful Astragalus species are grown in gardens as ornamental plants. For instance, A. alpinus has pretty bluish-purple flowers, and A. lotoides is also popular.