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14-481: The area was once covered by a light oak forest, but extensive deforestation in historical times has reduced this to only a small area, mostly in the valleys. Today, the higher altitudes have a sparse cover of grass, while grass cover grows more thickly around springs and streams. One important plant that commonly grows in the Alvand valleys is the gavar or goat's thorn , which produces the gum known as tragacanth which

28-437: A raceme , each flower typical of the legume family, with three types of petals: banner, wings, and keel. The calyx is tubular or bell-shaped. The genus was formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum . The name Astragalus is Greek , an old name for this group of plants which were believed to have a positive effect on goat milk production. Astragalus species are used as food plants by

42-778: A supplement. Astragalus may interact with prescribed drugs that suppress the immune system , such as medications used by people being treated for cancer or recovery from organ transplants . Some astragalus species can be toxic , such as those found in the United States containing the neurotoxin swainsonine , which causes "locoweed" poisoning in animals. Some astragalus species may contain high levels of selenium , possibly causing toxicity. Several species, including A. alpinus (bluish-purple flowers), A. hypoglottis (purple flowers), and A. lotoides , are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. List of Astragalus species As of April 2023 , Plants of

56-555: Is Avestan and comes from the Avestan language word "Aurvañt", which means "quick, swift, brave; a steed, horse, racer, warrior". Mount Alvand is situated in a geographical location that has a Mediterranean climate with spring rains. The Alvand range forms the main watershed in Hamadan Province , with most of the province's rivers arising from the snowmelt on Mount Alvand and then flowing either north or south. Generally,

70-417: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Astragalus (plant) Over 3,000 species, see list of Astragalus species Astragalus is a large genus of over 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs , belonging to the legume family Fabaceae and the subfamily Faboideae . It is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species. The genus is native to temperate regions of

84-943: Is no high-quality evidence that it is effective or safe for any medical purpose. Extracts of astragalus root include diverse phytochemicals , such as saponins and isoflavone flavonoids , which are purported in traditional practices to increase lactation in nursing mothers. There is no valid clinical evidence to indicate such use is effective or safe for the mother or infant. Dietary supplement products containing astragalus extracts may not have been adequately tested for efficacy, safety, purity or consistency. The root extracts of astragalus may be used in soups, teas or sold in capsules . Although astragalus supplements are generally well tolerated, mild gastrointestinal upset , diarrhea , and allergic reactions may occur. Because astragalus may affect regulation of blood sugar and blood pressure , it may be risky for people with blood disorders , diabetes , or hypertension to use it as

98-464: Is used in medicine and industry. Although no settlements exist on the mountains themselves, the valleys and surrounding plains are home to many towns and villages. Several major cities lie at the foot of the Alvand range, including Hamadan, Malayer , and Tuyserkan . These settlements are supported by a highly productive agricultural base which includes wheat growing and livestock breeding (sheep, goats, and cattle). This agricultural prosperity comes from

112-588: The Laki language , have their summer pasture on the western slopes of Alvand, while the Yarimtoghlu have theirs on the east side. A third group that belongs to the Shahsevan also comes to the east side, but only in small numbers. Since the 20th century, sedentary agriculture and livestock breeding has expanded significantly into what used to be nomad territory. This Hamadan province location article

126-582: The Northern Hemisphere . Common names include milkvetch (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species) and goat's-thorn ( A. gummifer , A. tragacantha ). Some pale-flowered vetches ( Vicia spp.) are similar in appearance, but they are more vine -like than Astragalus . Most species in the genus have pinnately compound leaves. There are annual and perennial species. The flowers are formed in clusters in

140-538: The larvae of some Lepidoptera species including many case-bearing moths of the genus Coleophora : C. cartilaginella , C. colutella , C. euryaula , and C. onobrychiella feed exclusively on Astragalus , C. astragalella and C. gallipennella feed exclusively on the species Astragalus glycyphyllos , and C. hippodromica is limited to Astragalus gombo . Astragalus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine over centuries to treat various disorders, but there

154-581: The Qelqelrud. Another river system, the Abshineh Rud , has its source on Alvand's eastern slopes. It flows north to the kavir of Qom, but because a lot of its water is used for irrigation, it only actually reaches the kavir after very wet winters. It reaches its peak flow during March and April and dries up almost completely during the summer. The Alvand highlands are the traditional pastures for several nomadic tribes. The Torkeshvand , who speak

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168-493: The combination of a favorable highland climate and an abundance of water flowing down from the Alvand mountains. The historic site of Ganj Nameh , where two trilingual inscriptions were left in Achaemenid times, is located at the foot of the Alvand mountains, 10 km south of Hamadan. The Alvand range forms a language border between Turkish , Kurdish , Persian , and Luri . An unacademic website claims that "Alvand"

182-842: The northern Alvand highlands and eventually drains into Lake Qom . The main rivers on the south side are the Gamasiab and the Qelqelrud (itself a tributary of the Gamasiab). The Gamasiab is another name for the Karkheh River in its upper course. Its headwaters, known as the Sarab-e Gamasiab, are located southeast of Nahavand . The river then crosses the Nahavand plain and is joined by the Malayer River as well as

196-728: The rivers on the north side the mountain are mostly seasonal, while those on the south side flow year-round. The main rivers on the north side of Mount Alvand are the Talvar and the Qurichay (aka Siahrud). The Talvar begins at Kuh-e Safid in the northwest and ultimately joins the Sefidrud , the longest river in Iran, which flows to the Caspian Sea . The Qurichay, meanwhile, begins in the highlands between Hamadan and Malayer. It passes through

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