Perennial herb, c. 25 cm or less tall. Stem densely appressed pubescent, hairs white. Leaf imparipinnately compound, 2.5-6.0 cm long, petiole and rachis appressed pubescent; leaflets (5)-7-15, 6-25 mm long, 0.7-1.5 mm broad, linear to subuliform, subobtuse, glabrous above, pubescent below; stipules connate at the base, 1.5-2.0 mm long, appressed, black and white pubescent. Inflorescence a pedunculate raceme, peduncle 7-11 cm long, pubescent. Bracts c. 1 mm long, black and white pubescent. Calyx 8-15 mm long, pubescent, hairs appressed, black and white, teeth 1-3 mm long. Vexillum c. 19-25 mm long. Wing 16-20 mm long. Keel 14-17 mm long. Fruit 2.5-3 cm long, 1-1.5 mm broad, densely pubescent, hairs white, appressed, incompletely bilocular.

Fl.Per.: May July.

Type: ‘In the mountaneous places around Black Sea, e.g. of Odessa and in various places in New Russia and in mountain vallies of Crimea specially at Soldajam (Sudac)’, Pallas (presently untraceable); Pallas, Astrag. t. 20.1800 (see Ali l.c. 1958).

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, N.W.F. Province, Kashmir); Afghanistan; Russia; Turkey.

This taxon is treated here in a broader sense including Astragalus suffulcatus Bunge and Astragalus gladiatus Boiss.