Astragalus stella L.

General Appearance

Astragalus stella Gouan, it is an annual, usually branched from the base, with stems, up to 20 cm long, normally prostrate but sometimes ascending. Stipules free, cuspidate. Leaves up to 7 cm long, imparipinnate, with 3–9 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets elliptic, with an obtuse apex. Inflorescences capitate (head-like), borne on peduncles up to 40 mm or more in length. Flowers 1-12, sub sessile, bracteate. Calyx densely covered with white and black hairs. Corolla white, slightly tinged with pink; wings distinctly shorter than the standard. Legumes with up to 7 seeds per locule, sub sessile, spreading or ascending-spreading, arranged in a star-like cluster, densely covered with spreading and appressed hairs. Seeds up to 1.5 x 1 x 0.9 mm, compressed; shape variable depending on position within the pod and the presence and number of aborted or unfertilized ovules: usually rectangular in outline (seeds from the middle section) due to pressure from adjacent seeds; ±trapezoidal at the distal end; ±square towards the basal end. Hilar depression very deep. Radicle and cotyledonary lobes clearly visible. Hilum very small, partially concealed. Lens prominent, almost confluent with the hilum. Testa pitted/dented, ochre to greenish-ochre in color.

Flowering in: Feb-Apr.

Life Form

Th

Phytochoria

MED+SA. The native range of this species is Canary Islands, SW. Europe. N. Africa to Türkiye and Arabian Peninsula.

Distribution in Libya

Al-Jafarah Plain: Tripoli, Sidi El-Masri 1967 Mallaha Wetland Tripoli 2016 Sabratha region 2020 Coastal of Tripoli 2020

Zliten-Misurata Plain: Kaam area 2005 Misurata 2006

Benghazi Plain: Slouk-Msus road 2000 Between Slouk and Al-Abiar 2016

Jabal Nafusa: (20 km) from Al-Nagaza, roadside, sandy soil 1972 Msallata (Shaafeen) 2008 Msallata National Park (Shaafeen) 2013 Tarhuna (Khsaya, Whedat) 2018 Msallata-Garaboulli Province 2020 Wadi Kaam (Main course) 2022

Notes

Wild in Libya.

This species is accepted: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60452635-2

Link of images: https://www.atlasdesemillasdecanarias.org/atlas/ficha.php?ID=218, https://www.teline.fr/en/photos/fabaceae/astragalus-stella, https://www.florealpes.com/fiche_astragalusstella.php

For more information

https://www.ipni.org/n/60452635-2, https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60452635-2, https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000191912, https://www.gbif.org/species/5345210, https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/specie/146016/astragalus-stella-gouan, https://atlas-sahara.org/Fabaceae/Astragalus%20stella/Astragalus%20stella.html, https://www.atlasdesemillasdecanarias.org/atlas/ficha.php?ID=218, https://www.teline.fr/en/photos/fabaceae/astragalus-stella, https://www.florealpes.com/fiche_astragalusstella.php

Bibliographic References

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S.M.H. & El-Gadi, A. (1980) Flora of Libya, Fabaceae Vol. (86) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya. Page. 53.

Second: Researches and PhD theses, master theses, Sorted by Newest:

Almushghub, F., Ahmed, D., Sharaf El-Din, A., Shaltout, k. (2022) Vegetation analysis of Wadi Kaam at northwest Libya. Journal of Basic and Environmental Sciences, 9 (2022) 20-37. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357516127_Vegetation_analysis_of_Wadi_Kaam_at_northwest_Libya, https://jbes.journals.ekb.eg/article_372060_558ee8095e2cf97881a8a3cc705aa126.pdf

Vegetation analysis of Wadi Kaam at northwest Libya.2022

Al-khojah, H.M., Al-Yafour, L.A., Mahklouf, M.H. (2020) Floristic Study of Selected Districts in Sabratha region Libya. J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology Volume 7/Issue 4 ISSN: 2348-7313. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2s5EMysAAAAJ&hl=ar, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf

Floristic Study of Selected Districts in Sabratha region Libya. 2020.

Mahklouf, M.H. (2020) Biodiversity of the coastal flora of Tripoli Province. Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 58: 13-19, 2020. BRC http://www.brc.amu.edu.pl , http://brc.amu.edu.pl/pdf-127341-54763?filename=Biodiversity%20of%20the.pdf, http://brc.amu.edu.pl/Issue-58-2020,9131

Biodiversity of the coastal flora of Tripoli Province. 2020

Mahklouf, M.H., Sherif, A.S., Betelmal, A.G. (2020) Floristic Study and Species Diversity of Msallata-Garaboulli Province in Libya. J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology Volume 7 / Issue 3 ISSN: 2348-7313. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Mahklouf, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341306643_Floristic_Study_and_Species_Diverisy_of_Msallata-Garaboulli_Province_in_Libya

Floristic Study and Species Diverisy of Msallata-Garaboulli Province. 2020

Mahklouf, M.H. Sherif, A.S, Betelmal, A. G. (2018) Floristic Study for Tarhuna-Libya. Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem, 2018, 46 (3), 337-364. http://www.hjbc.hacettepe.edu.tr/journal/volume-46/issue-3/floristic-study-for-tarhuna-libya/index.html

Floristic Study for Tarhuna–Libya. 2018

Mahklouf, M.H. Sherif, A.S, Betelmal, A. G. (2018) Floristic Study for Tarhuna-Libya. Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem, 2018, 46 (3), 337-364. http://www.hjbc.hacettepe.edu.tr/journal/volume-46/issue-3/floristic-study-for-tarhuna-libya/index.html

Floristic and Inventory Study of Mallaha Wetland Tripoli – Libya. 2016.

Raheel, RO. M., El-Borasi, Y. M., El-Barrani, M. W., El-Hassi, S. (2016) Study of Flora and vegetation cover of the semi-desert area between Salouq and Al-Abyar-the first high of Jabal Al-Akhdar-Libya, Fourth Scientific Conference for Environment and Sustainable Development In dry and semi-arid areas. Ajdabia. Libya. (In Arabic) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yacoub-El-Barasi , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebeh-Rahil

دراسة الفلورا والغطاء النباتي للمنطقة الشبه صحراوية الممتدة بين مدينتي سلوق والابيار . 2016

Al-Masalati, N. A. A. (2013) Plant diversity across the altitudes of the Msallata National Park Reserve Mountains. Master Thesis. Botany Department-College of Science-University of Benghazi-Libya. (In Arabic).

Mohammed, S.A.H. (2008) A taxonomic and ecological study of the plants of the Shaafin Reserve in Masalatah. Master Thesis. Department of Biology-Faculty of Arts and Sciences-Al-Mirqab University. Al-Khums. Libya. (In Arabic).

Al-Dana, S. M. M. (2006) Taxonomic study of wild flower plants in some areas of Misrata. Master Thesis, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Misurata University (7 October previously) Misurata, Libya. (In Arabic).

Al-Shif, N. S. (2005) a taxonomic study of the plants of the Kaam region. Master Thesis, College of Science, Al-Marqab University, Al-Khums, Libya. (In Arabic).

El-Kady, H.F. (2000) Vegetation analysis along Sluk-Msus Road in southeastern Benghazi, Libya, El-Minia Scienve Bulletin, Volum. 13(1), pp.61-71. 2000.

PAMPANINI, R. (1931). Prodromo della Flora Cirenaica. -: 271 – under: Astragalus sinaicus var. pedunculatus Pamp., 291 – under: Astragalus sinaicus auct. https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/records/item/14218-prodromo-della-flora-cirenaica