Common Name:

General Information

Chamaecrista pumila is a many-branched, procumbent or erect often short-lived perennial plant with stems that become more or less woody, at least at the base. It can grow from 25 - 75cm tall[, ].
The plant is cultivated as a green manure and soil protector[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, northern Australia.

Habitat

Found on sandy soils near the coast, along roadsides, in dry deciduous forest, but also as a weed in rice fields, at elevations up to 300 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland areas in monsoon regions of the tropics[].

The plant is considered to be a weed in India, amongst crops such as sorghum[].
Transplanting nursery-sown plants is preferable to direct sowing. Weeding several times after planting is required[].
Plants cover the soil after about 10 weeks and start flowering 6 weeks later. They can be dug in when starting to die off, after about 1 year[].
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

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is cultivated as a green manure and soil protector[]. A useful ground cover and green manure, competing well with weeds[]. It is recommended in tea plantations in Indonesia[].

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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