Astragalus caspicus

Subsp caspicus: Hazar geveni; Subsp pseudocaspius: Geyik geveni

Subsp caspicus: Low, cushion-forming shrub. Leaf rachis spiny, to c. 5 cm, straight, densely hairy, becoming glabrous. Leaflets 4-7 mm, elliptic, sometimes mucronulate, densely spreading simple-pubescent, 5-6-paired. Stipules 8-10 mm, ovate-lanceolate, glabrous or white-hairy. Inflorescence lax, elongate, 8-20-flowered; flowers 2-3 per leaf axil. Bracts 4-6 mm, linear-oblong, carinate, sparsely hairy at the apex. Bracteoles absent. Calyx 5-7 mm, densely white-pilose; tube 2-3 mm, glabrous at extreme base; teeth 2-4 mm, linear. Corolla white; standard 9-11 mm, platonychioid. N. Iran, Caucasia. Ir.-Tur. element.

Subsp pseudocaspius: Dwarf shrub 10-20 cm. Leaf rachis spiny, 1,5-5,0 cm, pubescent when young, reflexed. Leaflets 3-10 mm, elliptic, sparsely hairy, becoming glabrous, 4-6-paired. Stipules 6-10 mm, narrowly lanceolate, crisped-hairy, joined to half-way. Inflorescence elongate, 10-20-flowered; flowers 2-3 per leaf axil. Bracts c. 4 mm, linear, carinate. Bracteoles absent. Calyx 4-6 mm, tube c. 4 mm, becoming glabrous. Corolla white; standard c. 10 mm, contracted at the base of the lamina. Fl. 6. Dry hills, 500-700 m. Endemic.