Astragalus oleifolius

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tragacantha oleifolia
• Astracantha gaillardotii
• Astracantha gigantostrobus
• Astragalus deinacanthus
• Tragacantha lagonyx
• Astragalus oleifolius subvar. alexandri
• Tragacantha hasbeyana
• Astragalus oleifolius var. kurdistanicus
• Tragacantha aeluropus
• Astragalus oleifolius var. lagowskii
• Tragacantha deinacantha
• Astragalus oleifolius subvar. leontonyx
• Tragacantha gaillardotii
• Tragacantha lagowskii
• Astragalus oxyphyllus subsp. majusculus
• Tragacantha leontonyx
• Astragalus nabelekianus
• Astragalus qatmensis
• Astragalus sofarensis
• Astracantha oleifolia
• Astracantha lagonyx
• Astracantha lagowskii
• Astracantha louisii
• Astracantha deinacantha
• Astracantha gaziantepica
• Astracantha hasbeyana
• Astracantha sofarensis
• Astracantha qatmensis
• Astragalus aeluropus
• Astragalus deinacanthus var. angustifolius
• Astragalus deinacanthus subsp. judaicus
• Astragalus deinacanthus var. magnistipulatus
• Astragalus hasbeyanus
• Astragalus gigantostrobus
• Astragalus gaziantepicus
• Astragalus gaillardotii
• Astragalus louisii
• Astragalus leontonyx
• Astragalus lagowskii
• Astragalus lagonyx

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Astragalus, specifically as the species Astragalus oleifolius.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions of Western Asia and the Caucasus. Within the Caucasus, its presence is noted specifically in the Transcaucasus region. Its range extends further into Western Asia, where it can be found growing in Iran. Additionally, the species inhabits parts of Iraq and the territories spanning Lebanon and Syria. Finally, its geographical distribution includes the area of Palestine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Astragalus oleifolius is fundamentally defined by its preference for rugged, high-altitude environments, specifically thriving within mountainous regions. It is most commonly found colonizing stony places, where it has adapted to grow amidst rocky substrates and sparse, mineral-rich soils. These habitats typically subject the plant to significant environmental stressors, including well-drained terrain and varying levels of solar exposure characteristic of montane ecosystems. By occupying these niche lithic environments, the species manages to navigate the specific moisture and temperature fluctuations inherent to rocky, elevated landscapes.

Habitat :

mountains, stony places

Morphology

The morphology of Astragalus oleifolius is characterized by a growth form that functions as a low-growing shrub or subshrub, exhibiting a distinctly woody structure. The plant maintains a relatively compact stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.4 m. In terms of its ecological habit and substrate preference, it displays a versatile nature that includes aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial capacities. Furthermore, the species is characterized as an independent organism, functioning without any parasitic relationship to other plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Astragalus oleifolius is characterized by a metabolic framework consistent with its ecological adaptations, most notably through its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, the initial carbon fixation process occurs via the enzyme Rubisco, which incorporates atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon molecule, typically 3-phosphoglycerate, during the Calvin cycle. This physiological mechanism dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and gas exchange patterns, as it relies on maintaining open stomata for CO2 uptake, which inherently leads to transpirational water loss. The metabolic efficiency of this C3 pathway in Astragalus oleifolius is closely tied to its environmental interactions, where the rate of photosynthesis is governed by light availability, temperature fluctuations, and moisture availability within its specific habitat.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Astragalus oleifolius is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and uniform seed production. The flowering period typically begins in July and continues through August, marking the primary stage of its reproductive cycle. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass; the seed mass remains constant at a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.0156 g, indicating a lack of significant variance in the weight of the individual seeds produced.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass mean:

0.0156 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Astragalus oleifolius has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Astragalus oleifolius has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Macrophyllosaponin A, Macrophyllosaponin B, Macrophyllosaponin C, Macrophyllosaponin D.

Macrophyllosaponin A

1. Journal of natural products

Macrophyllosaponin B

1. Journal of natural products

Macrophyllosaponin C

1. Journal of natural products

Macrophyllosaponin D

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Astragalus oleifolius has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include roots.

Roots

1. Journal of natural products