Common Name:

General Information

Hylodesmum repandum is an erect, perennial plant, often becoming woody at the base. It can grow 30 - 150cm tall with simple or branched stems[]. The plant can have a climbing orscrambling habit, sometimes forming dense undergrowth 30 - 400cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It can be used as a green manure and ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widespread in the tropics from Africa, through Asia to some of the Pacific Islands.

Habitat

Often one of the dominant components of shaded places in dry evergreen forest or rain-forest or at the forest margin; riverine vegetation; Podocarpus forest; along roadsides; at elevations from 400 - 3,050 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, almost always in areas of year-round rainfall in Asia[], but also commonly in areas of seasonal rainfall in Africa[].

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

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used in combination with other diuretic substances[].

The roots are used in the treatment of stomach troubles[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has been used as a green manure and ground cover[].
The plant grows well in shade and would appear suitable as a cover-crop for coffee and other plantation crops[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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