Astragalus brachycalyx
Fisch. ex Boiss.
Persian manna
(c) Ivan Kroupsky, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Ivan Kroupsky, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ivan Kroupsky
What to Eat
Edible parts: Gum
Edible Parts: Edible Uses: Gum Gum A source of a poor grade of gum tragacanth - used as a thickener in confections. Some exudes naturally, more can be obtained by incision of the stem about 5cm below ground level.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It grows in rocky places between 1,800-3,100 m above sea level in Turkey.
Europe, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Turkey, Türkiye,
How to Identify
A deciduous shrub with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by bees and lepidoptera. Nitrogen-fixing capability. Grows in light sandy and medium loamy soils that are well-drained. Accommodates mildly acidic to basic pH. Requires full sun and prefers dry conditions.
How to Grow
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. Whilst it is likely to tolerate low temperatures it may not be so happy with a wet winter. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a dry well-drained soil in a sunny position. Succeeds in poor soils. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and are best planted in their final positions whilst still small. This plant is a sub-shrub and although it produces woody stems these tend to die back almost to the base each winter. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. 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.
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. A period of cold stratification may help stored seed to germinate. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
Gum Gum Gum tragacanth is obtained from the stem (see above). It has a wide range of uses including:- a thickening agent in preparing dyes for calico printing, textile dyes and for dressing fabrics, it is also a thickener in making glues, water colours, ink (where it supplies a gloss), it is a binding agent in paper making, a culture medium in laboratories etc. Special Uses Nitrogen Fixer
Wikipedia
Source ↗Astragalus brachycalyx, the Persian manna or manna, whose name is derived from the Greek ‘brachy’ meaning "short" and ‘calyx’ meaning the sepal of a flower, is a species of legume commonly found on rocky mountain slopes in western Asia, from western Iran and northern Iraq to Turkey, and is commonly used as a source of gum tragacanth. The sweet honeydew of the plant lice Cyamophila astragalicola secreted onto A. brachycalyx is an essential component of traditional gaz, the Persian form of nougat produced in Isfahan, Iran.
Names & Synonyms
References (2)
- Ferns, Useful Temperate Plants.
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
