Common Name:

General Information

Sesbania macrantha is a short-lived plant with a softly-woody stem. Growing 1 - 6 metres tall and becoming shrub or tree-like, it can be cultivated as an annual or is in nature a biennial to perennial plant. There are two forms; var macrantha has prickles on the stem whilst var levis is completely unarmed[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of medicines, fuel, soap and emergency food. It is sometimes grown to provide shade in coffee plantations and as a green manure for restoring soil fertility.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.

Habitat

The variety macrantha is found in swamps, streams and lake margins, except in the moistest parts of its range; the variety levis is found on riverbanks, usually in different areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sesbania macrantha grows under a variety of climatic conditions from the tropics to the frost-free subtropical regions, and is sometimes grown as an annual where frosts do occur. It can be found cultivated at elevations up to 2,300 metres in E. Africa, however growth rates and yields are lower than at lower elevations. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall ranges from 900 - 2,000mm[].
Grows wild on a variety of soils[].
A fast-growing plant when young. This early rapid growth helps the plant to overcome weed competition better than most multipurpose tree species, thus reducing the amount of weeding required during establishment[].
The plant reaches maturity after 12 months, with a mean height of 3.98 metres[].
When coppicing, lower cutting heights produce more foliage[].
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

Seed - cooked[]. Eaten after removing the seed coat by roasting[]. The seed is generally eaten only in times of shortage, when better foods are unavailable[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[]. No more information.

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown to provide shade in coffee plantations[]. Its rapid growth, vigorous nodulation and high levels of nitrogen fixation make it excellent for soil fertility improvement. The rhizobium nodules on sesbanias are often abundant - they are thought to be relatively short lived, senescing when the trees flower or are coppiced. This is believed to result in a release of nitrogen into the soil at those stages of development or management[].
With a life span that can be only a year, but with outstanding growth and biomass production, this species is an
ideal candidate for improved fallows, enrichment of fodder banks and green manure production in biomass transfer
systems for soil improvement[].

Other Uses

When mixed with water, the saponins in the plant's tissues produce a foam - this is used as a soap substitute for washing clothes[].

The stems are used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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.
Cuttings.

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