Psophocarpus lancifolius
Harms
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Psophocarpus lancifolius is a perennial climbing plant growing from a distinct small carrot-shaped tuberous taproot; the stems can be up to 8 metres long. The stems scramble over the ground, twining into other plants for support. The stems will often form new roots where the nodes touch the ground, these roots can develop into new tubers[
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.
,
1570- Title
- Uses, Nutritional Composition, and Ecogeography of Four Species of Psophocarpus (Fabaceae, Phaseoleae) in Zaire
- Publication
- Economic Botany Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1990), pp. 391-409
- Author
- Harder D.; Lolema O.P.M. & Tshisand M.
- Website
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255258.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
,
1571- Title
- A Revision of Psophocarpus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae-Phaseoleae)
- Publication
- Kew Bulletin Vol. 33, No. 2 (1978), pp. 191-227
- Author
- Verdcourt B. & Halliday P.
- Website
- http://10.2307/4109575
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1978
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. The tubers are a nutritious food with excellent potential to become a cultivated crop in tropical areas experiencing seasonal rains[
1579- Title
- A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Rafnia Thunb. (Fabaceae, Crotalarieae)
- Publication
- Dissertation for Magister Scientiae in Botany
- Author
- Campbell G.
- Publisher
- Rand Afrikaans University
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A Dissertation presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Magister Scientiae in Botany at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Rand Afrikaans University, S. Africa.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1571- Title
- A Revision of Psophocarpus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae-Phaseoleae)
- Publication
- Kew Bulletin Vol. 33, No. 2 (1978), pp. 191-227
- Author
- Verdcourt B. & Halliday P.
- Website
- http://10.2307/4109575
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1978
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
Tropical Africa - Ethiopia, south through eastern DR Congo and Kenya to Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe
Habitat
Swampy upland grassland, grassland with scattered Combretum, Bridelia, Parinari, Nuxia, Shrebera, etc; evergreen rain-forest margins; dambo grassland; old fields and pastures; also in swampy areas near standing water; streamsides; etc.[
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
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial Climber |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Species in this genus generally require a sunny position, growing best in a moist but well-drained, slightly acid loamy soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Tubers - roasted[
1570- Title
- Uses, Nutritional Composition, and Ecogeography of Four Species of Psophocarpus (Fabaceae, Phaseoleae) in Zaire
- Publication
- Economic Botany Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1990), pp. 391-409
- Author
- Harder D.; Lolema O.P.M. & Tshisand M.
- Website
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255258.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
The juice, extracted from the leaves, is mixed with salt and used as a cough suppressant and to induce labour[
1570- Title
- Uses, Nutritional Composition, and Ecogeography of Four Species of Psophocarpus (Fabaceae, Phaseoleae) in Zaire
- Publication
- Economic Botany Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1990), pp. 391-409
- Author
- Harder D.; Lolema O.P.M. & Tshisand M.
- Website
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255258.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - requires pre-treatment. Pre-soaking for 12 - 24 hours in warm water should soften the hard seedcoat and allow the seed to swell. If it does not swell, then making a small nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) should allow the seed to take up water[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
