The genus Astragalus (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Galegeae) in Mexico

Astragalus is the most diverse genus within flowering plants with almost 2500 species, it widely distributed around world, very abundant in temperate regions of Northern Hemisphere, central and western Asia, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Europe, Mongolia, Siberia, northeastern China, Japan. In American continent especially Canada, United States, Mexico, South America. Given diversity species present recent description at least 15 new for this country, absence a study that encompasses all findings last general Mexico dates back 60 years, we consider necessary taxonomic synopsis information, which presented here. The records 102 Mexico. This work based essentially on review collections specimen samples, type specimens national foreign herbaria, data bases, collection by authors 40 years covers practically entire area where recorded 46 infraspecific taxa; seventy one 17 varieties are endemic to Baja California (32), Chihuahua (25), Durango (23), Sonora (22), Coahuila (20), San Luis Potosí (17), Nuevo León Zacatecas (15) states greatest richness. decreases from north south west east. Most mountains, followed low arid plains, including coastal dunes, those ones, exclusively northwestern region. There no any Campeche, Tabasco, Quintana Roo or Yucatan. dichotomous keys mainly color flowers, shape pod if fruit sessile stipitate. For each included also morphological description, habitat, altitudinal range, distribution map.