What does "astragalus" mean?

Astragalus: (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeæ, containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species, particularly the A. gummifer and A. verus.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Arch.) See Astragal, 1.

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