Description and images of Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hierba loca), a native Chilean plant, provided by the supplier of native exotic Chilean seeds, Chileflora.com

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hierba loca). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii

Region Metropolitana, Alfalfal, Chile
Altitude: 1650-1850 m. 11 12, 2006

Species:	Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hook. et Arn.) Griseb.
Family:	Fabaceae
Order:	Fabales
Chilean Name:	Hierba loca
English Name:
German Name:
Russian Name:

Record:	0527
	About 49 Astragalus in Chile and 15 in our data base.
	About 311 Fabaceae in Chile and 199 in our data base.




	Native Very Frequent Height: 20 cm. Some ornamental value (B)

Our philosophy and explanations about this page

Here you can buy the seeds of this species.

SILENCE KILLS...

Civilized Human Beings can not be Silent Accomplices to Murder and War Crimes

Did you know that:

israeli forces target and kill family members, including children, of journalists who report on Gaza atrocities?

israeli forces murdered more than 36 journalists?

israeli forces murdered more than 11000 Palestinians in just over four weeks?

israeli forces murdered more than 4500 Palestinian children in just over four weeks?

73% -- of those [Palestinians] killed are from vulnerable populations, including children, women, and elderly individuals (CNN, 29th October)

israeli forces murder more than 142 Palestinian children every day for the last three weeks?

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterrez said that "Gaza is becoming graveyard for children"?

israeli forces murdered six times more Palestinian children (3000+) in three weeks than Ukrainian children (500) died in Russo-Ukranian war in two years?

more than a third (35%-40%) of victims murdered by israeli forces are children?

more than half (55 %) of Palestinian victims murdered by israeli forces are either women or children?

israeli targeted and destroyed at least 30 ambulances with injured people in Gaza?

more than 1.5 million Palestinians are displaced?

more than 45 % of all buildings in Gaza are damaged or destroyed?

an israeli minister (Amihai Eliyahu) wanted to drop nuclear bomb on Gaza, because there are "no non-combatants in Gaza"?

Hitler wanted to eliminate all Jews (9 millions). israeli minister Amihay Eliyahu wants to eliminate all Gazan Palestinians (2.3 millions)?

israelis murdered more than 116 medical personnel?

out of 1152 identified israeli victims, only 26 are clearly identified as children (Haaretz.com, 11th Nov). That is just over 2 % of israeli vistims?

israelis lied that Hamas targeted israeli children during October 7th attack?

more than half (13) of israeli children killed were aged 16 and 17 and were confused with adults?

there are israeli civilian victims caused by friendly fire (killed by the israelis themselves)?

israelis lied that Hamas "kills babies". There are only 4 israeli baby victims (age 0..4 years) (Haaretz.com)?

israelis lied about total number of israeli victims, admitting officially that there are only about 1200 and not 1400 after one month?

doctors in the Al-Shifa hospital are now being forced to carry out artificial respiration by hand on the 36 babies that they’re caring for because israelis cut off electricity supply?

3 babies died in Gaza's biggest hospital as it went out of service due to israeli blockade?

israeli mutilated and injured more than 30000 Palestinians?

israeli politican recently claimed that “the children of Gaza have brought this upon themselves”

Premature babies relying on oxygen supplies will die if no fuel is delivered to Gaza (CNN)?

Palestinian parents write names of their children on their body so that they could be identified in case they were killed by israeli forces?

Palestinian victims are often operated on without anestesia because the israeli forces would not allow the entry of medicaments?

for israeli defense minister Palestinians are human animals?

current israeli Minister of National Security, Ben Gvyr, was convicted of supporting an israeli terrorist group and incitement to racism?

israeli forces murdered 35 staffers of UN?

israeli ex-minister Naftali Bennett said: 'They [Palestinian children] are not children. They are terrorists'?

Amnesty International declared that israeli policies towards Palestinians are Apartheid?

French president said about Palestinians being murdered: "These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy"

Turkey president said that what israel does in Gaza "amounts to genocide"?

Spanish minister accused israel of a “planned genocide”?

israeli forces use collective punishment to take revenge, which is a war crime?

in the last 15 years prior to Hamás attack, 6400 Palestinian were murdered and only 311 israelies were killed?

Now, you know it, Now, you can decide

Now, you know it, Now, you can act

Now, you know it, Now, you can judge

israeli War Criminals should and will be brought to justice!

Boycott israel!

BOYCOTT ISRAEL!

If you wondered, we will run this information campaign for 4500 days, the number of Palestinian children murdered by israelis. We owe it to them. And for each new child victim, we will prolong the campaign for one day.

INTRODUCTION

Despite the fact that this is a common plant in Chile, it is truly attractive: it has a very sweet scent, and when the plant finds adequate habitats, it tends to form blue-violet carpets which can rival color of the sky.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hierba loca). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii

Region Metropolitana, Alfalfal, Chile
Altitude: 1650-1850 m. 11 12, 2006

DESCRIPTION

Flower: Blue, 5 petals

Height: 20 cm.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hierba loca). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii

Region Metropolitana, Alfalfal, Chile
Altitude: 1650-1850 m. 11 12, 2006

HABITAT

In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:

Habitat according to altitude:

Extreme altitude well beyond the timber line
High altitude close to the timber line

Watering conditions:

Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall. Short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month).
Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3 - 5 months. Precipitations of 400 - 800 mm. are concentrated in winter.

Light conditions:

Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hierba loca). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii

Region Metropolitana, Alfalfal, Chile
Altitude: 1650-1850 m. 11 12, 2006

USES

Some ornamental value (B)

Useful properties:

POISONOUS Plant

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii (Hierba loca). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Astragalus cruckshanksii

Region Metropolitana, Alfalfal, Chile
Altitude: 1650-1850 m. 11 12, 2006

GROWING TIPS

This species has the following hardiness:

USDA Hardiness Zone 7, even 6b. The plant tolerates low temperatures (-15° C even -20° C), it can be covered by snow for months (1 - 8 months).

The germination of seeds is easy provided that you break the outer protective skin of the seed. For just a few seeds use a nail-clipper or a file (you have just to scratch the surface, taking off maybe a flake). For larger batches you can use sulphuric acid or mecahnical scarificators (please see specialized literature before attempting this, as use of concentrated acid is very dangerous). Soak the scarred seeds in water for about 24 hours. They should visiblly swell up. If not, yo have not scratched them sufficently. Plant immediately, and the seeds should germinate quickly. Needs good watering, exposure to sun, and average soil with good drainage (not too rich and not too poor in organic matter) with good drainage.

If you are interested in purchasing seeds of this or similar species, please go to our On-line Seeds Shop.