Astragalus gigantirostratus, endemic to the E Elburs Mts, is described as a species new to science and illustrated. It is characterized by long fruits (7.5–11 cm), connate stipules, bifurcate hairs and a retuse wing petal. The new species belongs to A. sect. Cytisodes and is related to A. dolichocarpus, A. stenocarpus and A. pseudocytisoides. The hitherto known species of this section are all confined to the Turkestanian floristic province of the Irano-Turanian region. A. gigantirostratus thus constitutes an interesting range extension of this section into the Hyrcanian province.
References
A. Bunge
1868: Generis Astragali species Gerontogeae 1. Claves diagnosticae. — Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Pétersbourg, sér. 7, 11(16). Google Scholar
N. T. Gončarov
,
A. G. Borissova
,
S. G. Gorškova
,
M. G. Popov
&
I. T. Vasil’čenko
1946: Leguminosae: Astragalus. — In:
V. L. Komarov
&
B. K. Šiškin
(ed.),
Flora SSSR 12. — Moskva & Leningrad. Google Scholar
G. P. Jakovlev
,
A. K. Sytin
&
Ju. R. Roskov
1996: Legumes of Northern Eurasia, a check-list. — Kew. Google Scholar
A. A. Maassoumi
1998: New findings on the genus Astragalus in Iran. — Iran. J. Bot. 7: 221–226. Google Scholar
