Common Name:

General Information

Chamaecrista mimosoides is an annual or occasionally a short-lived perennial plant with a more or less woody base. The stems can grow up to 1 metre long[, , ].
The plant is sometimes cultivated to improve barren soils and is also used medicinally[]. It is cultivated in Japan, where it is used as a susbstitute for tea[, ].

Known Hazards

The plant is considered edible for cattle, though at the same time it is also often considered unsuitable for fodder because it contains toxins such as the anthraquinone chrysophenol[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Widespread in tropical Africa to tropical Asia, it probably originated in tropical southeast Asia.

Habitat

Slopes, wastelands, in bushes, grasslands of southern China[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier areas of the tropics and subtropics[].
Succeeds in poor and dry soils[]. Plants are very drought resistant[].
The plant is considered a weed in India and Sri Lanka[].
The leaves react to touch in the same way as the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica)[].
Lants can flower all year round[].
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

A decoction of the leaves is used as a tea in Japan[].

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. I have some reservations for this entry[].

Medicinal

The roots are used in the treatment of dysentery and stomach pains[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are grown for improving the soil[].
A self-seeding green manure plant, providing a light ground cover and stabilizing loose sandy soils[]. Opinions on usefulness vary[].
The plant has been recommended as a shade and cover plant in tea plantations at elevations around 1,500 metres in India, though it is also considered a weed there and in Sri Lanka[].

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.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: subtract 1 from 12