Astragalus sinicus aka Chinese Milk Vetch

Astragalus sinicus is also known as Chinese milk vetch. It belongs to Fabaceae, the pea family. Its native range spans central and southern China to Vietnam. It also grows wild in southern Korea and northern and central Taiwan. Kew places it in the temperate biome, or climate zone. In China, it grows in meadows in subtropical areas. These sites lie at 164–5,906 feet [50–1,800 metres] above sea level. It has become naturalized in Japan, growing near paddy fields. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

PFAF calls it a small biennial, with a two-year life cycle. It reaches about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall. Kew instead calls it a scrambling annual or perennial. This means it may live one year or several years. The sources thus differ on its life cycle. The supplied species accounts give no further leaf or stem details. They give no measure of its spread, either. PFAF says it flowers from April to July. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees, moths and butterflies move pollen between the flowers. Seeds ripen from June to August.

PFAF lists sand and loam as soils for growing it. The plant prefers moist soil that drains well. It accepts soils that are mildly acid, neutral or mildly alkaline. It needs an open site and cannot grow in shade. PFAF does not confirm whether it is hardy in Britain. It suggests the plant may grow outdoors in many areas. This view rests on its native range, not a firm hardiness rating.

The plant can fix nitrogen with bacteria in root nodules. These nodules are small lumps on the roots. Growers use it as green manure in Japan and southern China. Its role in improving soil is a key part of its value. PFAF also lists it for cultivated beds. Its seed guide says to sow ripe seed in a cold frame. Stored seed may benefit from a cold spell before sowing. Seeds can take four to nine weeks or longer to sprout. They may not all emerge at the same time.

People once grew this plant for edible leaves in China. PFAF lists cooked young leaves and seeds as edible parts. It gives no details on how to prepare the seeds. It also notes use in folk medicine for burns and mucous discharge. These records do not show that such use is safe. Nor do they prove that the treatments work. The supplied evidence gives no toxicity finding for this species. It names no pests or diseases for this species, either.