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Useful Tropical Plants

Indigofera macrocalyx

Guill. & Perr.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Indigofera macrocalyx is an annual plant with straggly or suberect stems that are somewhat woody and copiously branched from the base; the plant can grow 30 - 45cm tall[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria and Chad

Habitat

Wooded savannah on sand; fields; alluvial terrace of streams; sandy plateau; sandy-clayey soil slightly humid; at elevations up to 915 metres[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.40 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Indigoera species generally grow best in a sunny position, preferring a well-drained but moist soil[
974
Title
Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
Publication
 
Author
Ahmed Fayaz
Publisher
Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
Year
2011
ISBN
978-1-55407-489
Description
A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]. Many of the species will also succeed in drier conditions and in poor soils.
We have seen no specific information for this species, but most members of the genus have 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 dried inflorescences, to which lime juice and salt have been added, is administered in draughts as a purgative[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The stems and leaves are used as a stimulant and to treat conditions such as malaria, constipation, sexual impotence[
1506
Title
Polyphenol Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Five Indigofera Species (Fabaceae) from Burkina Faso
Publication
Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 11 (11): 1429-1435, 2008
Author
Bakasso S.; Lamien-Meda A.; Lamien C.E.; Kiendrebeogo M.; Mi
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1028-8880
Description
 
].

An aqueous acetone extract of the leaves and stems is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids and has been shown to be an effective antioxidant[
1506
Title
Polyphenol Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Five Indigofera Species (Fabaceae) from Burkina Faso
Publication
Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 11 (11): 1429-1435, 2008
Author
Bakasso S.; Lamien-Meda A.; Lamien C.E.; Kiendrebeogo M.; Mi
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1028-8880
Description
 
].

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.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Indigofera+macrocalyx>

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