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Astragalus species

(over 1500 species exist)

Fabaceae, or Leguminosae

Tragacanth, Gum Tragacanth

The gum group includes:
Astragalus adscendens Boiss
A. echinaeformis Sirjaev
A. gossypinus
A. gummifer Labill
A. microcephalus Willd.

Milk Vetches used for forage & groundcovers

forages and groundcovers
Astragalus adsurgens Pall
A. cicer
A. falcatus L. Per.
A. meliotoides

Other Astragalus species and their uses:
Astragalus boetica - Swedish Coffee (seeds roasted for a coffee substitute)
A. crassicarpus Nutt.- Buffalo Pea, Ground Plum (unripe seed pods edible)
A. glycyphyllos - (Used for a tea)
A. membranaceus - Milk-vetch root, huang qi (a chinese medicine)

Introduction of Chia and Gum Tragacanth in the U.S.—Howard S. Gentry, Marc Mittleman, and Peter R. McCrohan

See: Astragalus In: Potential New Specialty Crops from Asia: Azuki Bean, Edamame Soybean, and Astragalus. Lumpkin, T.A., J.C. Konovsky, K.J. Larson, and D.C. McClary. 1993.

See: Astragalus In: Special Purpose Forage Legumes. Rumbaugh, M.D. 1990.

New Crops for Canadian Agriculture—Ernest Small

Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Opportunities for Domestic Production—Lyle E. Craker and Jean Giblette