Family |
Fabaceae
Astragalus lanatus
Labill.
Leb. Syr.
Astragalus lanatus Labill.
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CXXVI nº 3; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Perennial with a branched underground stem forming pseudo-rosettes, sometimes in small mats. Aerial parts densely covered with greyish, compact hairs.
Leaves: With 6–9 pairs of closely set or slightly spaced, ovate, obtuse leaflets. Stipules lanceolate, shortly connate at the base.
Inflorescence & flowers: Scapiform peduncles longer than the leaves, slender and rigid, reaching up to 10 cm. Capitula ovate. Bracts oblong, three times shorter than the calyx tube.
Calyx: Hispid (7–9 mm), with white and black hairs; teeth three times shorter than the tube.
Corolla: Pale yellowish-white, 12–15 mm; standard oblong, exceeding wings and keel.
Fruit: Oblong, compressed, triangular pods with a short beak.
Phenology: Flowers from June to September depending on snowmelt and altitude.
Habitat & elevation: Mountain habitats, not restricted to the highest peaks.
Lebanese distribution: Mi. Sir-ed-Denniyé; Mm. Neba‘ Succar above Sir, Cedars, Hasroun; Me. Col des Cèdres, Qornet es-Saouda, Jabal Sannine; Herm. Hermon summit.
Regional range: Endemic to Lebanon and Hermon