We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Astragalus glycyphyllos - L.

Common Name Milk Vetch, Licorice milkvetch
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards Many members of this genus contain toxic glycosides[65]. All species with edible seedpods can be distinguished by their fleshy round or oval seedpod that looks somewhat like a greengage[85]. A number of species can also accumulate toxic levels of selenium when grown in soils that are relatively rich in that element[65].
Habitats Rough grassy and bushy places[13, 17].
Range Much of Europe, including Britain, though rare in the south, east to the Caucasus and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Full sun
Astragalus glycyphyllos Milk Vetch, Licorice milkvetch


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:82_Astragalus_glycyphyllos_L.jpg
Astragalus glycyphyllos Milk Vetch, Licorice milkvetch
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fornax

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Astragalus glycyphyllos is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
It can fix Nitrogen.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses: Tea

The herb is occasionally used as a tea[183]. The root is said to be a liquorice substitute[5], but certainly not from the point of view of taste[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Fodder

Agroforestry Services: nitrogen, understory legume. Fodder: pasture. Provides shelter for beneficial invertebrates: insects and other arthropods. A general nectary plant [1-2]. Groundcover [1-2].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Carbon Farming  Food Forest  Ground Cover  Nitrogen Fixer  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Understory legume  Fodder: Pasture  Management: Fodder  Management: Hay  Minor Global Crop

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[1, 134]. Prefers chalk and limestone soils[5], succeeding in grassland[200]. The leaves emit a sweet, aromatic scent when handled[245]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and are best planted in their final positions whilst still small[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. 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[200]. Carbon farming - Cultivation: Management: hay, fodder. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is clumping, giving the plant a clumping habit. The predictable growth behaviour makes it easier to maintain without having to apply containment methods[2-1].

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
  • Agroforestry Services: Understory legume  Legume vegetation, especially the trees and shrubs growing between the forest canopy and the forest floor.
  • Fodder: Pasture  Enclosed tracts of farmland mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs (non-grass herbaceous plants).
  • Management: Fodder  Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[200]. A period of cold stratification may help stored seed to germinate[200]. 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[134, 200]. 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[134, 200]. 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[134]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Milk Vetch, Licorice milkvetch

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Much of Europe, including Britain, though rare in the south, east to the Caucasus and W. Asia. The USDA database lists Astragalus glycyphyllos as introduced to some of the L48 (Lower 48 States), and Canada.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

No

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Astragalus aboriginorumIndian MilkvetchPerennial0.3 -  LMND20 
Astragalus adscendensPersian MannaShrub0.0 -  LMND202
Astragalus boeticusSwedish CoffeeAnnual0.6 7-10  LMND20 
Astragalus brachycalyx Shrub0.0 -  LMND202
Astragalus canadensisCanadian Milkvetch, Shorttooth Canadian milkvetch, Morton's Canadian milkvetchPerennial1.0 7-10  LMND323
Astragalus carduchorum Shrub0.0 -  LMND202
Astragalus chartostegius Shrub0.0 -  LMND10 
Astragalus chinensisHua Huang Qi, Chinese milkvetchPerennial0.7 0-0  LMND02 
Astragalus christianus Perennial0.2 -  LMNDM20 
Astragalus complanatusBei Bian Huang QiPerennial0.8 -  LMNDM02 
Astragalus crassicarpusGround Plum, Groundplum milkvetchPerennial0.5 6-9  LMND413
Astragalus creticus Shrub0.0 -  LMND202
Astragalus densissimus Shrub0.5 -  LMND202
Astragalus diphysusSpecklepod Milkvetch, Freckled milkvetchPerennial0.0 0-0  LMND30 
Astragalus echinus Perennial0.5 -  LMND10 
Astragalus edulisMilkvetchAnnual0.3 0-0  LMND20 
Astragalus exscapus Perennial0.3 4-8  LMND012
Astragalus floridusDuo Hua Huang QiPerennial0.3 -  LMND02 
Astragalus florulentus Shrub0.0 -  LMND202
Astragalus garbancillo Shrub0.0 -  LMND001
Astragalus globiflorus Shrub0.2 -  LMND202
Astragalus gummiferTragacanth, Gum tragacanth milkvetchShrub0.3 7-10  LMND232
Astragalus hamosusEuropean milkvetchAnnual0.6 0-0  LMND12 
Astragalus henryiQin Ling Huang QiPerennial0.8 -  LMNDM10 
Astragalus hoantchyWu La Te Huang QiPerennial0.4 -  LMNDM11 
Astragalus kurdicus Shrub0.2 -  LMND202
Astragalus leioclados Shrub0.0 -  LMND202
Astragalus massiliensis Shrub0.3 5-9  LMND303
Astragalus membranaceusHuang QiPerennial0.3 5-9  LMND053
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Kenneth   Fri Sep 21 2007

Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology This is a superior herb in TCM, a very important herb.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Astragalus glycyphyllos  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.