Common Name:

General Information

Desmodium velutinum is an erect, shrub or sub-shrub growing up to 3 metres tall[].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Madagascar; E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

Sunny grassy slopes, streamsides, thickets, mixed forests at elevations of 100 - 1,400 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 26°c, but can tolerate 18 - 32°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of -1°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,500mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm[]. Plants can tolerate a dry season of up to 5 months[].
Succeeds in full sun and also in deep shade[]. Prefers a well-drained, light to medium soil of low to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 7, tolerating 4 - 7.5[].
Because of the abundant small uncinate hairs on most species, the seedpods cling most tenaciously to clothing, to any part of the human body, and also to the feathers and hair of various animals, thus ensuring a wide dispersal of the plants[]. Plants can escape from cultivation and become weeds[].
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 squeezed leaves are chewed with salt to treat diarrhoea[].
The leaves and roots may be chewed (but not swallowed) to relieve toothache[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed develops 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.
The seed usually germinates within 1 - 4 months at 25°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel.
Division. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on until they are rooting well.
Root cuttings.

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