Swedish coffee, Milk vetch, Loco
Astragalus boeticus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A short annual herb. It is hairy. The hairs are simple. The stems are erect. The leaves have 10-15 pairs of oblong leaflets. The leaflets have a notch at the tip. The leaflets have a few hairs underneath. The flowers are yellow. They are 12-14 mm long. They are on stalks half as long as the leaves. The pod is oblong and triangle shaped in cross section. They are 20-40 mm long. The pods have a groove underneath and a beak at the end.

There are 2,000 Astragalus species.

Where it is found

It grows in Mediterranean climate places. It grows below 1,150 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Balkans, Britain, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Palestine, Portugal, Scandinavia, Sicily, Sinai, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted, ground and used as a substitute for coffee. The seeds are also eaten raw by shepherds and children.

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Seed pod, seeds, seeds -coffee

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Krinbou-ch, Milk vetch

Synonyms

Astragalus baeticus L.; Astragalus boeticus L. var. siliquosus Rouy; Astragalus boeticus L. var. subinflatus Rouy; Astragalus uncinatus Moench; Astragalus uncinatus Bertol.; Tragacantha boetica (L.) Kuntze; Triquetra boetica (L.) Medikus;