Common Name:

General Information

Alysicarpus monilifer is a low-growing, much-branched, annual to perennial plant growing 5 - 50cm tall[]. A prostrate to decumbent plant, the stems usually become woody at the base and are12 - 60cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia; E. Asia - Pakistan, India, Myanmar

Habitat

Humid sands; grassland; also as a weed; roadsides; bushlands; at elevations up to around 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Alysicarcup monilifer is a plant of the arid to moist tropical zone, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 28°c, but can tolerate 12 - 34°c[]. The plant is not tolerant of frost. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 200 - 1,500mm[]. Perennial forms of this plant from India are found in areas with 600 - 1,500mm annual rainfall, whilst annual types from Sudan are found in areas with 200 - 400mm, and a short growing season of less than 3 months[].
Prefers a sunny position, tolerating some shade[]. The plant grows on a wide range of soil types from deep sands and stony soils to cracking clays[]. Tolerates soils of low fertility[]. Succeeds in dry doild and also in soils that are seasonally inundated[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5.5 - 8[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory and also in the treatment of stomach ache[].
The plant is an antidote to snake bite, and is also used as a diuretic and in the treatment of skin diseases and as a diuretic[].

The leaves are used in the treatment of fevers and jaundice[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: a square has how many sides?