Astragalus tibetanus Benth. ex Bunge

A variable species.

Perennial, 4-35 cm tall, stem ascending to suberect, pubescent, hairs black and white. Leaves imparipinnately compound, 3-11 cm long, leaflets 17-29, c. 5-18 mm long, oblong-elliptic to oblong, obtuse or slightly retuse, pubescent on both sides; stipules free, small, lanceolate or deltoid. Inflorescence an axillary pedunculate raceme, peduncle c. 2.5-10 cm long, pubescent. Bracts shorter than calyx, pubescent. Pedicel c. 1-2 mm long. Calyx c. 7-10 mm long, pubescent, hairs black, teeth c. 1-3 mm long. Corolla azure-violet. Vexillum c. 16-22 mm long, grooved dorsally, pubescent, hairs black or black and white, bilocular, 6-10-seeded; stipe c. 24 mm long.

Distribution: Pakistan, Kashmir; Afghanistan; Russia, (Irtysh, Altai, Dzungaro-Tarbagatai, Pamir Alai, Tien Shan).

Fl.Per.: July-September.

Perennial, Herbs, Stems woody below, or from woody crown or caudex, Taproot present, Nodules present, Stems erect or ascending, Stems less than 1 m tall, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs sparsely to densely hairy, Leaves alternate, Leaves petiolate, Stipules conspicuous, Stipules membranous or chartaceous, Stipules persistent, Stipules free, Leaves compound, Leaves odd pinnate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire, Leaflets opposite, Leaflets 10-many, Leaves hairy on one or both surfaces, Inflorescences racemes, Inflorescence axillary, Bracts very small, absent or caducous, Flowers zygomorphic, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx hairy, Petals separate, Corolla papilionaceous, Petals clawed, Petals bl ue, lavander to purple, or violet, Banner petal narrow or oblanceolate, Wing petals narrow, oblanceolate to oblong, Wing tips obtuse or rounded, Keel petals auriculate, spurred, or gibbous, Keel tips obtuse or rounded, not beaked, Stamens 9-10, Stamens diadelphous, 9 united, 1 free, Filaments glabrous, Style terete, Style persistent in fruit, Fruit a legume, Fruit stipitate, Fruit freely dehiscent, Fruit oblong or ellipsoidal, Fruit or valves persistent on stem, Fruit exserted from calyx, Fruit beaked, Fruit hairy, Fruit 3-10 seeded, Fruit 11-many seeded, Seeds cordiform, mit-shaped, notched at one end, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or black.