<i>Astragalus zhobensis</i> , a new species of section <i>Caprini</i> (Fabaceae) from Zhob, northern Balochistan, Pakistan

A new species Astragalus zhobensis , from Qamardin Karez, Zhob district, northern Balochistan, Pakistan is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to A. cartilagineus , but can be distinguished by strigose hairs 3–5 mm long, (not stiff 1.5−4.0 mm long hairs); stipules 5–15 mm (not 8−12 mm) long; leaflets in 4–6 pairs, (not 3–10 pairs); peduncle 4–5 mm long, sparsely hairy (not 0.3−1.0 cm, mostly glabrous); raceme 1–2‐flowered (not 2–4(–5)‐flowered); standard 23–25 mm (not 22−30 mm) long, and shortly stipitate legumes, 13–19 mm (not 15–30 mm) long, 10–12 mm (not 8−12 mm) high and wide, with a stipe 2.5–3.0 mm long (not sessile). The legumes are slightly carinate ventrally, sulcate to gibbously rounded dorsally, with a 7–9 mm (not 4−7 mm) long beak and completely bilocular (not incompletely bilocular).