Eriosema cordatum
E.Mey.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Eriosema cordatum is a prostrate, ascending or rarely erect herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of stems from a woody rootstock; the rootstock can be 15 - 23cm long and 1 - 1.5cm thick (withsome reports saying up to 10cm thick). The stems are usually 12 - 45cm long, occasionally reaching 60cm[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
,
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.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Southern Africa - Zimbabwe, eastern S. Africa, Swaziland
Habitat
Open woodland with Peltophorum africanum, Pterocarpus rotundifolius, Acacia spp., etc.; grassland; tableland; often on black soil; sometimes abundant; at elevations from 250 - 1,750 metres[
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
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
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[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used to restore male fertility[
1320- Title
- Zulu Medicine and Medicine-men
- Publication
- Annals of the Natal Museum Vol 2 Pt 1, pp 1 - 103; 1909
- Author
- Rev. A.T.Bryant
- Publisher
- Natal Museum; Natal
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An early study of the traditional medicinal plants of Natal. Botanical names are often outdated, but lots of information on uses and methods of use.
]. Should the male organs fail altogether to produce seminal fluid, a hot milk infusion of the roots of this species, combined with Eriosema salignum, drunk at bedtime, will result in an early emission[
1320- Title
- Zulu Medicine and Medicine-men
- Publication
- Annals of the Natal Museum Vol 2 Pt 1, pp 1 - 103; 1909
- Author
- Rev. A.T.Bryant
- Publisher
- Natal Museum; Natal
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An early study of the traditional medicinal plants of Natal. Botanical names are often outdated, but lots of information on uses and methods of use.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried 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[
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.
