Eriosema psoraloides
(Lam.) G.Don
Fabaceae
The name of this taxon is sometimes spelled Eriosema psoraleoides. The name, however, is based on Crotalaria psoraloides Lam., and so this is the correct way to spell it.
Crotalaria psoraloides Lam.
Eriosema argenteum A.Chev.
Eriosema cajanoides (Guill. & Perr.) Hook. f.
Eriosema floribundum Klotzsch
Eriosema incanum Klotzsch
Eriosema macrophyllum Klotzsch
Eriosema polystachyum E.Mey.
Eriosema proschii Briq.
Rhynchosia cajanoides Guill. & Perr.
Rhynchosia psoraloides (Lam.) DC.
Common Name:
General Information
Eriosema psoraloides is an erect perennial plant producing more or less woody stems. It usually develops a singlr main stem with spreading branches above, growing up to 2 metres tall[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
544- Title
- Cataloge of African Plants Collected by Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch in 1853 - 1861
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Longmans & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In 6 volumes, it gives botanical descriptions and some uses of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Known Hazards
(leaf) Phytochemistry: fish-poisons[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
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
Widespread in Africa fom Senegal to Ethiopia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and northeast S. Africa
Habitat
Dambo fringes, lake shores, river banks, coarse grassland, Acacia woodland and woodland/grassland interfaces, disturbed ground, pastureland, as a weed in cultivation, and on termite mounds; at elevations up to 1,560 metres[
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.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Shrub |
Height | 1.50 m |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Found in the wild on loamy and sandy-loam soils[
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
]. Grows wild on sandy and black soils, usually in marshy or damp places[
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.
]. Plants growing by water are often in water for periods when the water level rises[
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.
].
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
The yellow seeds are cooked[
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.
].
Medicinal
All parts of the plant are used medicinally in Africa to treat a wide range of conditions. The roots are considered to be generally healing, diuretic, emetic, febrifuge and to have a positive influence on female fertility and health. They are used in the treatment of conditions such as ,naso-pharyngeal affections, stomach troubles, diarrhoea, dysentery, kidney problems etc. They are seen as genital stimulants, regulators of the menstrual cycle, as an aid in pregnancy and also to help obtain an abortion[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The roots, flowers and fruits are used to relieve pain[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The flowers and fruit are sedative[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]
The leaves are used in the treatment of eye problems, skin problems and cutaneous and subcutaneous parasitic infection[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The leaves and root are abortifacient, ecbolic and vermifuges. They are also used in the treatment of venereal diseases[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The whole plant and the root ash are used to treat pulmonary troubles[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]
Other Uses
The leaves are rubbed into the fur of dogs as a remedy for or preventative of lice etc[
1415- Title
- Plants of Possible Insecticidal Value - A Review of the Literature up to 1941
- Publication
-
- Author
- McIndoo N.E.
- Publisher
- USDA; Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
- Year
- 1945
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the insecticidal properties (or not) of almost 1,200 species of plant. Rather dated but still with information hard to obtain elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Intenet
].
The twigs are used as chewing sticks in order to clean the teeth and maintain oral hygiene[
1447- Title
- Antimicrobial Activity of Tanzanian Chewing Sticks Against Oral Pathogenic Microbes
- Publication
- Pharmaceutical Biology, 38:3, 235-240; 2000
- Author
- Maryam N. Khan, Olipa Ngassapa & Mecky I.N. Matee
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1076/1388-0209(200007)3831-SFT235
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. The bark contains compounds with antimicrobial activity and is best left on the stem when chewing[
1447- Title
- Antimicrobial Activity of Tanzanian Chewing Sticks Against Oral Pathogenic Microbes
- Publication
- Pharmaceutical Biology, 38:3, 235-240; 2000
- Author
- Maryam N. Khan, Olipa Ngassapa & Mecky I.N. Matee
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1076/1388-0209(200007)3831-SFT235
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
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.
].
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