Astragalus spinosus (Forssk.) Muschl., it is a spiny dwarf shrub, appressed canescent, up to 60 cm tall, intricately branched, younger parts densely tomentose, spines (persistent rachis of older leaves) 3-6.5 cm (rarely more) long, leaflets usually 4-5 pairs, oblong-elliptical to linear, usually 4-10 x 1-2 mm, obtuse, hairy on both surfaces. Peduncles up to c. 10 mm long. with 1-2-flowcred racemes. Flowers 20-25 mm long, creamy or white, frequently flushed with pink and the keel sometimes bluish-tipped, bracteoles 2-3 mm long, subulate, hirsute. Calyx 10-15 mm long, first tubular, then becoming inflated, ± globose-oblong in fruit, up 1015-20 x 10-15 mm, membranous, softly white-hairy, 30-40-nerved, teeth 2-3 (-4) mm, subulate. Pods 6-10 x 3-4 mm, oblong-ovoid, stipulate, shortly beaked, appressed-hairy, concealed by the calyx. Seeds oblong- ovoid, 3-3.5 x 2-2.2 mm, smooth, brownish.
Flowering in: Feb-Apr.
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