Description
 Gum Tragacanth Archival grade is suitable as a binder for pastels and chalk crayons. Produced from the dried, gummy exudation obtained from Astragalus gummifer. This plant is a small, low, bushy perennial shrub having a large tap root, which, along with the branches, is tapped for the gum. The plants grow wild in the dry deserts and mountains of Asia Minor, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Iran is the largest exporter and supplies the highest archival quality. The plants are tapped by making careful longitudinal incisions in the taproot and the bark of the branches. The gum is available in a wide variety of grades, lesser grades are used in confectionery.
