Common Name: Alyce Clover

General Information

Alysicarpus vaginalis is a low growing annual to short lived herbaceous perennial plant with numerous stems 10 - 100cm long emanating from the rootstock. In regions with a distinct dry period the plant will usually behave as an annual, but in moister regions, especially with year-round rainfall, the plant will often perennate. Plants are often more or less prostrate, especially if grazed, though ungrazed plants can be more erect, growing up to 1 metre tall in dense swards[, ]. The plant is extremely variable in habit, leaf shape and flower colour[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often cultivated as a green manure, soil stabilizer and improver.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widespread from East Africa, including Madagascar, through the Indian sub-continent, South-East Asia and thewestern Pacific

Habitat

Open grassy slopes, roadsides, sandy seashores, grasslands in parks, a weed in lawns; at elevations from 100 - 700 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Alysicarpus vaginalis is a plant of tropics in both areas with year-round rain and those with a distinct dry season of up to 6 months, where it is found at elevations up to 1,400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 35°c[, ]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. Although killed by heavy frosts, the plant will generally regenerates strongly from seed in the following spring/summer[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,300mm[].
The plant grows well under moderate shade and is more vigorous under the canopy of shrubs rather than in the open[]. It succeeds on a wide range of soil types, from coraline sands to clays, but prefers lighter soils[]. It requires a well-drained soil[]. Although it does not like waterlogged conditions it is able to tolerate short periods of inundation[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[].
This species is a common weed of lawns throughout the Asian region[, ].
Although fire is uncommon in the heavily grazed swards that favour this plant, a perennial accession not only persisted but was able to spread following a fire in Florida - this was due to its deep, well-developed crown. Very hot fires may kill the plant but the species will recover from seed[].
A short-day plant producing relatively high seed yields in the first season of growth[].
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

A decoction of the roots is used as a treatment against coughs[, ]. The roots are chewed as a treatment for fevers[].

An infusion of the powdered seeds is used as a remedy for dysentery and colic[].

The whole plant is used medicinally for treating sword wounds and bone fractures[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a useful component of native pastures in Fiji and northern Australia, especially where fertilizer has been applied. It has been used as a cover crop in Papua New Guinea and in rubber plantations in Java, and also as a hay crop in the United States[]. It is considered to be a good ground cover in Malaysia for preventing erosion on clay soils in rubber plantations[].
It can be used for soil improvement and conservation, providing effective erosion control on newly established terraces[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species 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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