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Useful Tropical Plants

Indigofera trita

L.f.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Anila subulata (Vahl ex Poir.) Kuntze

Galega frutescens Mill.

Indigofera arcuata Willd.

Indigofera canescens Lam.

Indigofera carinata De Wild.

Indigofera cinerea Willd.

Indigofera coccinea Lour.

Indigofera hedysarioides Lam.

Indigofera heterophylla C.Presl

Indigofera keyensis Small

Indigofera laevis Rydb.

Indigofera laotica Gagnep.

Indigofera leschenaultii DC.

Indigofera macilenta Standl.

Indigofera maffei Chiov.

Indigofera marginulata Baker, p.p.

Indigofera marginulata Wight & Arn.

Indigofera oreophila Santapau & Panthaki

Indigofera oxycarpa Desv.

Indigofera quartiniana A.Rich.

Indigofera rigida Willd.

Indigofera rosei Rydb.

Indigofera rutschuruensis De Wild.

Indigofera subulata Griseb.

Indigofera subulata Poir.

Indigofera tephrosioides Micheli

Indigofera tephrosiopsis Baill.

Indigofera tetragonoloba E.Mey.

Indigofera timorensis DC.

Indigofera trifoliata timorensis (DC.) Miq.

Tephrosia frutescens (Mill.) DC.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Indigofera trita is an erect perennial plant with stems that can become more or less woody, especially near the base, and persist. It usually grows from 0.5 - 2 metres tall, sometimes adopting a more scrambling habit when it can reach up to 5 metres tall[
318
Title
Raintree Nutrition - Tropical Plant Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.rain-tree.com/plants.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the medicinal uses of more than two hundred rainforest plants, mainly from S. America, with basic descriptions of the plants, their other uses etc.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and soap. It is sometimes used as a green manure and is often grown as an ornamental[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Indigofera trita is a very widespread species with a large population. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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

Widely distributed through tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, through tropical Asia to Australia. Also in tropical America, probably not native

Habitat

Grassy localities, scrub, wastelands, savannah and open forests. It occurs in secondary vegetation, is a weed of disturbed ground and often invasive[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height1.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Indigofera trita is a very widespread species in the tropics, where it can be found in a range of climates from deserts with less than 430mm of mean annual rainfall, through savannah to tropical monsoon climate[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Found in the wild on cracking clay, rich loamy or sandy soils on open plains or amongst rocks of various types[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]
Indigofera trita behaves as a weed on disturbed ground and is often invasive even in areas within its native distribution range. The species is included in the Global Compendium of Weeds, and it is also listed as invasive in India and as a weedy species in areas of Africa and Australia[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
A widespread and very variable species, there are several recognised varieties[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
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[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The seeds are used to make a nutrient rich tonic in India[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1402
Title
Ethnomedicinal Uses of Plants in the Plains Area of the Tirunelveli-District, Tamilnadu, India
Publication
Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 1198-1205. 2008
Author
Vanila, D., Ghanthikumar, S. and Manickam, V.S.
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

The whole plant is used in the treatment of various ailments, including liver disorders and tumours[
1499
Title
Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Indigofera trita Linn. on CCl4 Induced Hepatotoxic
Publication
J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 3(5): 344-350, 2008
Author
Raju Sentil Kumar et al
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1816-496X
Description
 
].

Antimicrobial properties which might be associated with the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, phytosterols and alkaloids have been reported[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
An ethanol extract of the whole plant has shown a strong hepatoprotective activity and this is believed to be, at least in part, due to the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the plant[
1499
Title
Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Indigofera trita Linn. on CCl4 Induced Hepatotoxic
Publication
J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 3(5): 344-350, 2008
Author
Raju Sentil Kumar et al
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1816-496X
Description
 
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is sometimes used as a green manure and cover crop[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Other Uses

The plant contains a soapy principle in considerable quantities[
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.
].

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Indigofera+trita>

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