Indigofera atropurpurea
Buch.-Ham. ex Hornem.
Fabaceae
Indigofera cavaleriei H.Lév.
Common Name:
General Information
Indigofera atropurpurea is an erect shrub or a small tree growing from 1.5 - 5 metres tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1496- Title
- A Revision of the Genus Indigofera (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in Southeast Asia
- Publication
- Blumea 30 (1984) 89-151
- Author
- Kort I. de, Thijsse G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1496- Title
- A Revision of the Genus Indigofera (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in Southeast Asia
- Publication
- Blumea 30 (1984) 89-151
- Author
- Kort I. de, Thijsse G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
Asia - eastern Afghanistan, southern China, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam
Habitat
Scrub on mountains, sparse forests, grasslands near trailsides or streams; at elevations from 300 - 1,900 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Indigofera species generally grow best in a sunny position, preferring a well-drained but moist soil[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]. Many of the species will also succeed in drier conditions and in poor soils.
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
Flowers - boiled and pickled[272[.
Medicinal
The flowers are boiled in water until reduced to half the volume and the liquid drunk as a treatment for diarhoea and dysentery[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
Other Uses
The twigs are extensively used in basket making and bark bridges[
480- Title
- Green Manures and Manuring in the Tropics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sornay P. De. Translated by Flattely F.W.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- John Bale, Sons and Danielsson Ltd.: London
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent work on the subject, even if it was written almost 100 years ago. It also includes a section of useful Legumes. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
1496- Title
- A Revision of the Genus Indigofera (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in Southeast Asia
- Publication
- Blumea 30 (1984) 89-151
- Author
- Kort I. de, Thijsse G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage 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.
