Common Name: Codarrio

General Information

Codarrio is a short-lived, erect shrub with multiple stems, growing from 1 - 3 metres tall.
The plant was grown on a rather large scale in the early 20th century as a cover and green manure crop, especially in SE Asia but also in other countries such as Malawi and Cuba[]. Nowadays, however, it has been mostly replaced by other species[]. More recently, it has once again been recommended as a valuable multipurpose legume and has been seriously studied in cultivation experiments[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

Plains, grassy river banks, sparse forests on mountain slopes; at elevations of 100 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropics, where it can be grown at elevations up to 2,000 metres[]. It can also be grown at low elevations in the subtropics. It succeeds in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 1,500 - 4,000mm[]. It can persist through a dry season of up to 3 months but is not productive under drought conditions[]. Plants are not tolerant of frost[].
Prefers a sunny position, but tolerant of some shade[].Tolerant of acid and infertile soils with much available aluminium[]. It grows well on sites with a shallow water table and poor drainage, and is not drought-resistant[]. Plants can tolerate short-term, periodic inundation of the soil[].
Plants are quite slow to establish from seed, but usually flower within 12 months[].
Plants can survive burning when growing in Imperata cylindrica grasslands in Indonesia[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Grown as a ground cover and green manure crop in tea and rubber plantations, and also for providing shade for young cocoa and coffee plantings[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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: Type the digit seven into the box