This name is not universally accepted. The Flora of Tropical Africa treats this species as Cassia falcinella Oliv., and treats Chamaecrista falcinella as a synonym[].

Common Name:

General Information

Chamaecrista falcinella is an upright or ascending, annual to perennial plant growing up to 60cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and southern Africa - Uganda, Kenya, eastern DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana.

Habitat

Mainly found in grassland at elevations from 1,000 - 1,800 metres[]. Miombo woodland and associated secondary bushland and grassland, often in sandy and sometimes damp places; at elevations from 1,500 - 1,750 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

A decoction of the pounded leaves is drunk as a remedy for rheumatism[].
The pounded leaves, mixed with ghee, are rubbed on the skin to promote healing of broken bones[].

The pounded roots are mixed with water and drunk to treat diarrhoea[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and 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.

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