Indigofera flavicans
Baker
Fabaceae
This species is closely related to Indigofera diphylla, having a more southerly range than that species[
498- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on a wide range of plants, including Raphionacme utilis. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Common Name:
General Information
Indigofera flavicans is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial plant with stems that spread and creep over the soil[
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 highly valued in Namibia as a potent cure for severe stomach problems, it is harvested from the wild for local use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
498- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on a wide range of plants, including Raphionacme utilis. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Africa - southern Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, S. Africa.
Habitat
A creeping plant growing in open positions in sandy soils and as a weed of cultivation[
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.
,
498- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on a wide range of plants, including Raphionacme utilis. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.00 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[
755- Title
- Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A decoction of the root is valued as a potent treatment for severe stomach ailments, diarrhoea and the like[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
]. The root is sometimes chewed for the same effect[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and 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.
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.
