Astragalus strictus

Astragalus strictus Grah. ex Benth. (syn: Astragalus ladakensis Balakr.; Astragalus strictus f. albiflorus Y.H.Wu; Astragalus strictus var. emarginatus Y.H.Wu; Tragacantha stricta (Benth.) Kuntze);

China (Qinghai, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Sichuan), Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Pakistani Kashmir (Baltistan, Hunza), Jammu & Kashmir (Kashmir, Ladakh, Rupshu), N-India (Sylhet, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh) as per Catalogue of Life;

Tap-rooted perennial. stems prostrate or ascending up to 15cm, appressed white pubescent. Leaves 2-4cm, leaflets 13-19, elliptic 4-6 x 2-2.5mm, obtuse or acute, base cuneate, glabrous or bearing a few hairs at margins above, appresed white pubescent beneath, stipuleslanceolate, 4-5mm. Racemes short, dense, 10-30 flowered on pedunclfes 2.5mm. Calyx tube 3-3.5mm, teeth narrowly lanceolate 2-2.5mm, appressed black pubescent. Petals pale purple or mauve, 7-8mm, standard obovate 5mm, broad, emarginate , wings oblong, blade 5*1.5mm, keel lunate 4.5*2mm. Pods oblong 6mm, some what recurved, basal stalk ± as long as calyx tube 6-8 seeded.
Fl. May-June
On open flat ground
(Attributions- A.C.J Grierson & D.G Long. Flora of Bhutan. Published by RBGE. 1987 from Bhutan Biodiversity Portal)


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Fwd: Astragalus ?strictus - new to efi : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (3)
3 images taken by the Late Krishan Lal on Sarchu plain on the border between Lahaul and Ladakh.
I understand this was identified by an Astragalus specialist but given this is such a large and difficult genus, cannot verify this name without undertaking a close inspection - which would take a long time devoted just to this task.  This is not possible for me at present.
Flowers of the Himalaya describe this species but does not illustrate it - nor does the Supplement. The authors say open slopes, rocks @ 2100-5000m from Pakistan to E.Nepal.  Common.
Stewart says A.strictus Grah. ex Bth. occurs in Baltistan, Nubra, Hunza, Ladakh (incl. Rupshu - where Sarchu is found).
Flora of Lahaul-Spiti gives A.strictus as a synonym of Astragalus ladakhensis Balak - common on moist-shady slopes and along agricultural fields at Jispa.....
Without a COMPLETE revision of the genus in the Himalaya it is not possible to meaningfully claim NEW species in the region.
The Plant List has A.ladakhensis Rao & Balodi (NOT Balak) as an unresolved named.
Further confusion.
 


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