Family |
Fabaceae
Astragalus oleifolius
DC.
Astragalus oleifolius DC.
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 344; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Stout, tomentose, more or less woolly stem.
Leaves: Stipules ovate-oblong, acuminate, villous. Petioles very long, 8–12 cm, rigid but relatively slender, with 10–15 pairs of orbicular, obovate or oblong, glabrous, mucronulate leaflets.
Inflorescence & flowers: Axillary multiflorous fascicles forming large ovate heads, 2–4 cm wide, densely surrounded by leaves. Bracts oblong-acuminate, membranous, keeled, velvety at the apex. Bracteoles 1–2, villous.
Calyx: With long, densely hispid teeth longer than the tube.
Corolla: Pink, 13–18 mm, clearly exceeding the calyx.
Phenology: Flowers in May.
Habitat & elevation: Subarid terrain, particularly under Syrian-type climates.
Lebanese distribution: Baalbek, Talia, Nebi Chiite, Yafoufa.
Syrian distribution: A.L. Ouadi-el-Qam, Ouadi Houreiré, S. of Zebdani, Bloudane; Dam. Ma‘raba, environs of Damascus; Herm. Qala‘at Jendel; Aleppo.
Native range: Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Transcaucasus, Türkey. (KEW, GBIF)