Indigofera macrocalyx
Guill. & Perr.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Indigofera macrocalyx is an annual plant with straggly or suberect stems that are somewhat woody and copiously branched from the base; the plant can grow 30 - 45cm 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.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria and Chad
Habitat
Wooded savannah on sand; fields; alluvial terrace of streams; sandy plateau; sandy-clayey soil slightly humid; at elevations up to 915 metres[
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.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Indigoera 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.
We have seen no specific information for this species, but most members of the genus have 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
A decoction of the dried inflorescences, to which lime juice and salt have been added, is administered in draughts as a purgative[
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 stems and leaves are used as a stimulant and to treat conditions such as malaria, constipation, sexual impotence[
1506- Title
- Polyphenol Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Five Indigofera Species (Fabaceae) from Burkina Faso
- Publication
- Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 11 (11): 1429-1435, 2008
- Author
- Bakasso S.; Lamien-Meda A.; Lamien C.E.; Kiendrebeogo M.; Mi
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 1028-8880
- Description
-
].
An aqueous acetone extract of the leaves and stems is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids and has been shown to be an effective antioxidant[
1506- Title
- Polyphenol Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Five Indigofera Species (Fabaceae) from Burkina Faso
- Publication
- Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 11 (11): 1429-1435, 2008
- Author
- Bakasso S.; Lamien-Meda A.; Lamien C.E.; Kiendrebeogo M.; Mi
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 1028-8880
- Description
-
].
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.
