Herbs perennial, caulescent; caudex subterranean or superficial, with creeping caudex branches. Hairs basifixed. Stems single or few to several. Stipules distinct or proximalmost connate. Leaves odd-pinnate, subsessile or short-petiolate; leaflets (5 or)7–15. Racemes usually loosely, sometimes compactly, flowered, flowers nodding. Calyx tubes campanulate or subcylindric. Corollas white, cream, or yellowish with whitish margins, banner recurved through 35–45°, keel slightly shorter than wings, apex blunt or round. Legumes ± persistent, pendulous, stipitate, obliquely ellipsoid or ovoid, ± inflated, usually bladdery, laterally compressed proximally, dorsiventrally compressed distally, unilocular. Seeds 6–10.

Distribution

w, c North America, Europe, Asia.

Discussion

Species 42 (2 in the flora).

Section Cenantrum is mainly Asiatic.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Astragalus americanus, Astragalus umbellatus