Astragalus hamosus L.

Spice In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Astragalus

Catalan common name: Astràgal hamós.

Spanish common name: Anzuelos. Hedisaro. Securidaca menor.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Therophytic calicole fields. Uncultivated fields. Therophytics communities.

Characteristics: An annual herbaceous plant that lives in dry-farmed fields and terraphytic meadows. It branches out at the base, although they remain, growing along the surface. The leaves are composed of many foliolates, but lesser in number and smaller than those of Astragalus boeticus. The flowers are white and appear grouped at the end of the peduncle. The fruits of this species are easily identified, as they are sharply curved into the shape of a fishhook. Flowers in spring.