Common Name:

General Information

Astragalus rhizanthus is a perennial plant with stems that can become more or less woody and persist. Growing from a thick, woody rootstock, the plant can have a distinct stem up to 25cm long, though it is often stemless. The leaves are 5 - 17cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - subalpine to alpine regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and China

Habitat

Subalpine to alpine meadows and stony slopes; at elevations from 1,800 - 5,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The whole plant is used as a blood purifier, and as a treatment for coughs and skin diseases[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The stems of the plant are interwoven into hedges in order to help deter livestock and other animals from penetrating the hedge[].

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.