Astragalus propinquus

Schischkin

Milk vetch, Hwanggi

FabaceaeRootsPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Roots

The roots are eaten in soups, often with chicken and meats, dried and sliced. They are also used in teas, wine, and dilute rice porridge.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

A temperate plant. It is native to northern China. It is hardy to frost. It suits hardiness zone 5.

Asia, China, Indochina, Korea, Mongolia, SE Asia, USA, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A sprawling herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 40-60 cm high and 30-45 cm wide. The roots are pale yellow. The leaves are light green and alternate. The leaves are 3-8 cm long and compound with 12-18 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are pea-like and pale yellow. They are 2 cm long. The fruit are papery pods. They are 2.5 cm long. The seeds are dark brown and kidney-shaped.

Medicinal Uses

Used in traditional medicine.

Other Information

It is a cultivated plant. It is available in dried form in Chinese stores in Australia.

Notes

It is used in medicine.

Names & Synonyms

Hoangky, Huangchoy, Huang qi, Pak kei

Astragalus membranaceus (Fischer ex Link) BungeAstragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bunge) P. K. HsiaoAstragalus propinquus var. glabra Vydr.Phaca membranaceus Fisch.

References (10)

Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 137 (As Astragalus membranaceus)
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 102 (As Astragalus membranaceus)
Fan, L., et al, The Use of Edible Wild Plants and Fungi in Korean-Chinese Villages. Journal of Environmental Information Science 44-5 p 71-79 (As Astragalus membranaceus)
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 466 (As Astragalus membranaceus)
Jackes, D. A., Edible Forest Gardens(As Astragalus membranaceus)
Jia, X., et al, 2016, Integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics to characterise the response of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) to prograssive drought stress. BMC Genomics 17:188 (This may be Astragalus mongholicus)
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 13
Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Petersbourg, Ser. 7, 11(16):25. 1868; 15(1):30. 1869 (As Astragalus membranaceus)
Pemberton, R. W. & Lee, N. S., 1996, Wild Food Plants in South Korea: Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States. Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 57-70 (As Astragalus membranaceus)
Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 121-143).