Astragalus vogelii subsp. fatimensis

Punjani, Bhasker, Patel, Suresh, Desai, Prashant, Chaudhary, Lal Babu & Sanjappa, Munivenkatappa, 2021, Taxonomic notes on Astragalus vogelii subsp. atimensis (Galegeae, Fabaceae), Phytotaxa 521 (3), pp. 212-218 : 212-213

Distribution of Astragalus vogelii subsp. fatimensis in India

Astragalus is chiefly a Himalayan genus in India with 79 species ( Chaudhary 2018). However, a few annual species have also been reported from the plains of some States, such as Punjab [ A. ophiocarpus Bunge (1868: 10) , A. scorpiurus Bunge (1847: 249) , A. tribuloides Delile (1813: 70) , A. vogelii subsp. fatimensis ], Haryana ( A. tribuloides ), Rajasthan ( A. tribuloides ) and Gujarat ( A. vogelii subsp. fatimensis ). Astragalus vogelii subsp. fatimensis , first reported from Punjab Province based on Edgeworth’s collections made during 1836 ( Bunge1868, Baker 1876, Ali 1961), is considered a rare taxon in India ( Cooke 1902). Subsequently, some collections were also made during 1883/85 by Drummond from Punjab ( Ali 1961). After that, it has not been recollected from Punjab in recent years, as is evident from the ongoing work on the genus in India ( Chaudhary & Srivastava 2007, Chaudhary 2018). A second collection of this taxon was reported from Gujarat as A. prolixus Sieb. ex Bunge (1968: 9) from two districts (Kutch-Mundra and Broach-Bhadbhut) ( Jain & Kanodia 1960, Shah 1978, Raghavan et al. 1981). However, Chaudhary (2018) was not able to record it from Gujarat as he could not locate or examine any of specimens mentioned by Shah (1978). Podlech & Zarre (2013) have also recorded it only from Punjab in India.

Recently, during botanical exploration in North Gujarat region, the authors (SP & PD) collected an interesting species of Astragalus from a new locality near Jaloya Village in Suigam Taluka of Banaskantha District in Gujarat State of India in February 2020. After a critical study of collected specimens and relevant literature ( Baker 1876, Cook 1902, Ali 1961 & 1977, Shah 1978, Podlech 1984, Podlech & Zarre 2013, Chaudhary 2018), these were identified as A. vogelii subsp. fatimensis . The present collections represent an extended distribution of the taxon in Gujarat in India. A detailed description along with taxonomic information, field photographs and line drawings are provided for easy identification of this taxon.