Astragalus boeticus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Faboideae
Tribus: Galegeae
Genus: Astragalus
Species: Astragalus boeticus
Name

Astragalus boeticus L.
Synonyms

Astragalus uncinatus Moench
Tragacantha boetica (L.) Kuntze
Triquetra boetica (L.) Medik.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Albania, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Sicilia, Yugoslavia
Regional: Southwestern Europe
France, Portugal, Sardegna, Spain, Baleares, Corse
Continental: Africa
Regional: Northern Africa
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
Regional: Western Africa
Western Sahara
Regional: Macaronesia
Canary Is., Madeira
Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Western Asia
Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Iran, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Sinai, Turkey
Introduced into:
Great Britain, Poland

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 758. Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Astragalus boeticus in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Dec 09. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Astragalus boeticus. Published online. Accessed: Dec 09 2020. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2020. Astragalus boeticus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 09 Dec 2020.
Catalogue of Life: 2024 Annual Checklist
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Astragalus boeticus in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

Vernacular names
suomi: Kahvikurjenherne
Ελληνικά, Κυπριακά: Αρκοκούτσια, Αρκοφατζιή, Νύχια του κόρωνου, Πιφάνης

Astragalus boeticus, the yellow milk vetch, or Swedish coffee is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East.[1]
Description

They have a self-supporting growth form and compound, broad leaves.[2][3]

They can grow to 0.6 meters (2 feet). The bloom period is between the months of July to August. The plant has both male and female organs. It can fix nitrogen. It is pollinated by Bees, Moths, and Butterflies.[4]

It is most commonly found in March and April. It is most commonly found in the country of Spain, being found more than 500 times there.[1]
Distribution

It can be found in the countries and islands of Albania, Algeria, The Baleares, The Canary Islands, Corsica, Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, Egypt, France, Greece, Iran, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Western Sahara, and ex-Yugoslavia.[5]
Uses

The seed pods are edible. Roasted seeds are used as a substitute of coffee.[4]

It has been used as a coffee substitute, especially during the 1800s, when coffee was scarce. It was even used by the Swedish monarchy. There is evidence that Astragalus boeticus has a lot of genetic diversity, as it is found in most of the Mediterranean and parts of the Middle East. Evidence suggests with limited breeding that it could be a better coffee substitute.[6]
Sources

This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC0 (license statement/permission). Text taken from Astragalus boeticus​. Encyclopedia of Life.
References

"Astragalus boeticus L." www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
"Astragalus boeticus L. - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
Mifsud, Stephen (2002-08-23). "Asplenium sagittatum (Mule's Fern) : MaltaWildPlants.com - the online Flora of the Maltese Islands". www.maltawildplants.com. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
"Astragalus boeticus Swedish Coffee PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
"Astragalus boeticus L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
Prohens, Jaime; Andújar, Isabel; Vilanova, Santiago; Plazas, Mariola; Gramazio, Pietro; Prohens, Rafael; Herraiz, Francisco J.; De Ron, Antonio M. (2014-01-01). "Swedish coffee (Astragalus boeticus L.), a neglected coffee substitute with a past and a potential future". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 61 (1): 287–297. doi:10.1007/s10722-013-0059-0. hdl:10251/64447. ISSN 1573-5109.