Common Name:

General Information

Astragalus garbancillo is a perennial plant with stems that are somewhat woody at their base. It produces stems from 10 - 50cm tall.
The plant is used locally as an insecticide, to wash clothes and for medicinal purposes.

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

Range

S. America - Argentine, Chile, Peru, Bolivia.

Habitat

Common weedy shrub in open fields and on hedgerows along tracks at elevations above 2,000 metres in Peru[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropical to tropical zones, usually found at higher elevations up to 3,500 metres. It can be cultivated outdoors in the warmer regions of the temperate zone, where winters are mild
Requires a dry well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
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. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[]. 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

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[].
The plant is boiled with cane alcohol and rubbed on the legs to relieve pain[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The growing plant has been used as an indicator plant to locate the presence of uranium ore in Peru[].

Other Uses

Used as an aid to soaps for washing fine fabrics[, ].

The plant is said to have insecticidal properties[, ].

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.