Perennial herb, stem much reduced, densely white pilose. Leaf imparipinnately compound, rachis c. 5-7.5 cm long, petiole c. 2.5 cm long, leaflets 25-31, obovate to emarginate, c. 6-9 mm long; stipules large, membranous. Inflorescence a sessile globose head. Bracts linear. Pedicel c. 1 mm long. Calyx c. 11-13 mm long, densely white pubescent, teeth linear subulate, subequal c. 5-7 mm long. Vexillum c. 16-22 mm long, panduriform, glabrous. Wing c. 15-20 mm long. Keel c. 12-14 mm long. Ovary stipitate, densely white pubescent. Fruit c. 11 mm long, c. 6 mm broad, densely pubescent, hairs pale, spreading, many-seeded; stipe c. 1-2 mm long.

Fl.Per.: June.

Lectotype: Kurram valley, Sargul to Biankhel, 5.6.1879, Aitchison 510 (K ).

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F. Province); Afghanistan.

There is remarkable parallelism between Astragalus rhizocephalus Baker ex Aitchison and Astragalus staintonianus Ali but the former has panduriform vexillum whereas in the latter species it is not panduriform.