ETYM Latin See Astragal.
1. The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.
2. A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeae, containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species.
The dried root of an Asian milk vetch (Astragalus membranaceus) used especially as a remedy in Chinese herbal medicine; also; a preparation or extract of this root.

Large genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of north temperate regions; largest genus in the family Leguminosae; Also called: genus Astragalus.