Eriosema salignum
E.Mey.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Eriosema salignum is an erect, perennial plant growing from a long root that is said to be as hard as a bone. The slender stems can grow 10 - 60cm tall[
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.
,
1322- Title
- A Contribution to the Flora of the Leribe Plateau and Environs
- Publication
- Annals of the South African Museum Vol XVI
- Author
- Garabedian S.
- Publisher
- South African Museum
- Year
- 1917
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A brief description of the plants, usually giving local names and often traditional uses.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Southern Africa - southern Mozambique, eastern S. Africa, Swaziland
Habitat
Grassland[
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.
]. Veld and mountain slopes[
1322- Title
- A Contribution to the Flora of the Leribe Plateau and Environs
- Publication
- Annals of the South African Museum Vol XVI
- Author
- Garabedian S.
- Publisher
- South African Museum
- Year
- 1917
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A brief description of the plants, usually giving local names and often traditional uses.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The root is diuretic. A decoction is used in the treatment of scrofula and scanty urine[
1557- Title
- A Contribution to South African Materia Medica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith A.
- Publisher
- J.C.Juta & Co; Cape Town, S. Africa
- Year
- 1895
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, a brief guide to the medicinal plants used by native peoples in S. Africa in the late 19th century.
].
Should the male organs fail altogether to produce seminal fluid, a hot milk infusion of the roots of Eriosema cordatum and 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.
