Common Name: Milk Vetch

General Information

Astragalus glycyphyllos is a herbaceous, perennial plant with prostrate to ascending, usually unbranched stems; it grows 45 - 90cm tall[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a tea

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

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Range

Much of Europe, including Britain, though rare in the south, east to Turkey and Iran, the Caucasus, western Siberia and Kazakhstan

Habitat

Rough grassy and bushy places[, ]. Scrub and woodland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[, ]. Prefers chalk and limestone soils[], succeeding in grassland[]. Succeeds in poor soils[].
The leaves emit a sweet, aromatic scent when handled[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and are best planted in their final positions whilst still small[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen[]. 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[].

Edible Uses

The herb is occasionally used as a tea[].
The root is said to be a liquorice substitute[], but certainly not from the point of view of taste[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. A period of cold stratification may help stored seed to germinate[]. 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[, ]. 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[, ]. 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[]. 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.