Astragalus microcephalus
One of the commonest spiny cushion milkvetches of the Central and Eastern Anatolian steppe; its early-summer flowers give bees good nectar and feed local milkvetch honeys.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,2-0,5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Astragalus microcephalus is a thorny, cushion-shaped milkvetch that covers large areas of dry steppe, stony slopes and the foothills of the high pastures in central and eastern Anatolia and the southern Caucasus. It is one of the species from whose stems gum tragacanth is obtained. Its yellowish-white flowers, which open in small heads among the leaves, are regularly visited by honey bees.
Flowering
Depending on altitude it flowers from May to July. It is very drought-tolerant; in early summer it is one of the main sources of the steppe, and secretion rises on hot days.
Honey and pollen
The honeys sold in eastern Anatolia as milkvetch (geven) honey come from several milkvetch species; this species is one of their main sources. Data on the colour and crystallisation of the honey could not be separated by species and were therefore left blank. Its pollen value is moderate.
Note for the beekeeper
Milkvetch stands are being uprooted for fuel and overgrazed; this increases both erosion and the loss of bee forage. On milkvetch steppe, the thorny cushions can make working around the hives difficult.