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Astracantha Podlech
Genus very closely related to Astragalus, differentiated by its small sessile pods, with a single seed, completely included in a densely villous calyx. Genus of about 240 species, found mainly in Turkey and Iran. In North Africa there are 2 woody species, one in Egypt (Sinai Peninsula) and one in the Moroccan High Atlas. They are spiny chamaephytes, cushion-shaped, 20-50 cm in height, with very intricate stems, mucronate leaflets and white-cottony calyces.
Key to species
1 Leaflets 4-15 mm long. High mountains in Spain and Morocco Astracantha granatensis
1 Leaflets 2-4 mm long. High areas in the Sinai Peninsula and Mount Hermon Astracantha echinus
Updated by: H. Sainz.