56 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Astragalus adscendens, Boissier and Haussknecht. 



Persia, in alpine elevations of 9,000 to 10,000 feet. A shrub, 

 attaining a height of 4 feet. Yields gum-tragacanth in abundance 

 i Haussknecht] . Many species of this genus, numerous in various 

 parts of Europe and Asia, in California and in some other parts of 

 the globe, deserve attention for pastural and other agronomic pur- 

 poses. Tragacanth is preferentially used, to give gloss to calico, 

 also much in confectionery. 



Astragalus arenarius, Linne, 



Europe and Western Asia. A perennial fodder-herb for any 

 sandy desert country. 



Astragalus br achy calyx, Fischer. 



Kurdistan. A low shrub, affording gum-tragacanth [Flueckiger]. 



Astragalus Cephalonicus, Fischer. (A. aristatus, Sibthorp.) 



Cephalonia. A small shrub, yielding a good tragacanth ; and so 

 probably also does the true A. aristatus of 1'Heritier. 



Astragalus Cicer, Linne. 



Middle and Southern Europe and Middle Asia. A nutritious 

 perennial herb, much sought by grazing animals. It requires, 

 according to Langethal, deep friable grounds and, like most legu- 

 minous herbs, calcareous ingredients in the soil. 



Astragalus Creticus, Lamarck. 



Candia and Greece. A small bush, exuding the ordinary ver- 

 micular tragacanth ; the pale is preferable to the brown sort. 



Europe and Northern Asia. Succeeds on light soil, also in forest- 

 regions. It has been recommended as a perennial, substantial 

 fodder-plant, which on cow-pastures particularly increases the yield 

 of milk. Hardy as far as 61 24' north lat. in Norway [Schue- 

 beler]. 



Astragalus gummifer, La Billardiere. 



Syria and Persia. This shrub also yields a good kind of traga - 

 canth. 



Astragalus hypoglottis, Linne. (A Danicus, Retzius.) 



Colder regions of Europe, Asia and North- America. This peren- 

 nial plant is regarded as a good fodder-herb on calcareous and 

 gravelly soil, and would likely be of importance in any alpine 

 region. Of the enormous number of supposed species of this genus 

 (according to Bossier, not less than 750 merely in Asia Minor and 

 the adjoining countries) many must be of value for pasture, like 

 some of the closely-allied Australian Swainsonas, though they also 



