Astragalus uvsicus D. Munkhtulga, S. Baasanmunkh & H. J. Choi 2025, sp. nov.

Astragalus uvsicus D. Munkhtulga, S. Baasanmunkh & H. J. Choi sp. nov. Fig. 7 Diagnosis. Astragalus uvsicus is morphologically similar to A. beitashanensis W. Chai & P. Yan (Zhai and Yan 2010) and A. laguroides, but can be distinguished by its leaflet 2–5 pairs, narrowly elliptic, acute 8–11 (– 14) × 3–5 mm (A. beitashanensis, vs. 3–5 pairs, elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse, 4–9 × 3–6 mm; vs. A. laguroides, 3–5 pairs, narrowly elliptic, acute 8–25 × 3–6 mm) Legumes linear, 5–6 × 2–3 mm, with a beak c. 1 mm, bilocular, loosely covered with spreading, straight hairs (A. beitashanensis, legumes oblong, c. 8 mm, unilocular, very densely covered with spreading, basifixed hairs; A. laguroides, legumes oblong, (6) 7–8 × 2–3 mm long, with a hooked beak c. 1 mm, unilocular; covered with subappressed to spreading hairs). At the section level, the Uvsicus section is differentiated by its plants covered with medifixed hairs (vs. covered with semi-appressed pilose in Mixiotricha), peduncle not longer than leaves, raceme many-flowered (vs. peduncle very short, raceme few-flowered in Trachycercis and Mixiotricha), legumes enclosed in the calyx (vs. calyx ruptured by legumes in Macrotrichoides), and bilocular (vs. unilocular in Laguropsis) (Table 3). The general habits of selected sections within the subgenus Cercidothrix are shown in Fig. 8. Type. Mongolia. Depression of Great Lakes: • Uvs province, Malchin soum, Khuiten valley, 49°29'36.2"N, 93°10'18.5"E, 1550 m, 30 May 2024, B. Oyuntsetseg, G. Bayarmaa, & D. Munkhtulga [Holotype UBU 0039100! (Fig. 6 A)] • Uvs province, Malchin soum, Surtiin zuslan, 49°37'0.6"N, 93°3'46.6"E, 1611 m, 10 June 2021, D. Munkhtulga [Isotype UBU 0027685!]. Description. Plants perennial, 5-12 cm tall, acaulescens or nearly so, covered with medifixed hairs. Rootstock with a pluricipital root-crown. Stipules narrowly triangular-acuminate, 5-7 mm, shortly adnate to the petiole, otherwise free from each other, covered with strongly asymmetrically bifurcate, subappressed white hairs up to 2 mm. Leaves 3-8 (12) cm; petiole 2-3 cm, like the rachis covered with medifixed, appressed hairs. Leaflets in 2-5 pairs, narrowly elliptic, 8-12 × 3-5 mm, apex acute, rather densely covered with medifixed, appressed hairs c. 1 mm. Peduncles 2-6 cm, with medifixed, appressed hairs. Racemes globose or ovate 3-4 cm long. Bracts scarious, 2-3 mm, narrowly triangular, white and few black hairy. Calyx at beginning of anthesis tubular, later on ovoid-inflated, 11-14 mm, with distinct, elevated longitudinal nerves, loosely covered with subbasifixed, spreading white and black hairs 1-2 mm; teeth subulate, 2-3 mm. Petals violet. Standard 15-18 mm; blade 3-4 mm wide, obovate, slightly constricted in the middle, emarginate, at the base gradually narrowed into the rather long claw. Wings 13-15 mm; blades narrowly oblong, obtuse, 5.5-6.5 × 1.1-2 mm; auricle c. 1 mm; claw 7.5-8.5 mm. Keel 12-14 mm; blades 4-5 × 3 mm. Ovary sessile. Legumes enclosed in the calyx, linear, c. 5-6 × 2-3 mm, with a beak c. 1 mm, bilocular, loosely covered with spreading, straight white hairs c. 1 mm, smaller black hairs amount greater than the apex. Distribution. Endemic to Mongolia. This species is found in the Khyargas and Uvs lakes in the depression of great lakes region in Mongolia (Fig. 9). Habitat. This species grows in stony mountain slopes and near rocks, sayr slopes. Etymology. The species epithet refers to the location where the species was collected. Additional specimens examined. Mongolia. Depression of Great Lakes: • Uvs province, Tarialan soum, Turgen river, 49°56'10.9"N, 92°15'22.7"E, 900 m, 31 August 1984, I. A. Gubanov 9338 (MW 0183285).