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Useful Tropical Plants

Neorautanenia mitis

(A.Rich.) Verdc.

Fabaceae


We are following the treatment in the on-line 'African Plant Database'[
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.
], which treats Neorautanenia amboensis as a synonym of this species. Some other treatments, however, maintain the two taxons as distinct. If treated as distinct, the pesticidal properties apply equally to each species[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Cacara orbicularis (Welw. ex Baker) Hiern

Dolichos ellenbeckii Harms

Dolichos mitis A.Rich.

Dolichos orbicularis (Welw. ex Baker) Baker f.

Dolichos pseudopachyrhizus Harms

Dolichos seineri Harms

Neorautanenia amboensis Schinz

Neorautanenia edulis C.A.Sm.

Neorautanenia orbicularis (Welw. ex Baker) Torre

Neorautanenia pseudopachyrhiza (Harms) Milne-Redh.

Neorautanenia seineri (Harms) C.A.Sm.

Pachyrhizus orbicularis Welw. ex Baker

Pueraria hochstetteri Chiov.

Common Name:

Neorautanenia mitis
Small flowering plant
Photograph by: Scamperdale
Creative Commons License
Neorautanenia mitis Neorautanenia mitis Neorautanenia mitis

General Information

Neorautanenia mitis is a very variable, subshrubby herb growing from a large, tuberous rootstock; it produces stems 2 metres or more long that can be erect, climbing, scrambling or entirely prostrate[
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.
,
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 rootstock is often conical, frequently more than 40 cm long and can weigh 10 - 15 kg[
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, and is also used as an insecticide.

Known Hazards

The roots contain saponins and have been used as a fish poison[
1415
Title
Plants of Possible Insecticidal Value - A Review of the Literature up to 1941
Publication
 
Author
McIndoo N.E.
Publisher
USDA; Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
Year
1945
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the insecticidal properties (or not) of almost 1,200 species of plant. Rather dated but still with information hard to obtain elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Intenet
].
Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References


Range

Tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Somalia, south to Namibia, northern S. Africa and Mozambique.

Habitat

Drier areas of Africa, in grassland, bushland and open woodland, often in rocky places[
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 *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height2.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Neorautanenia mitis is a plant of drier tropical areas of Africa, south from subsaharan regions.
Requires a well-drained soil and a position in full sun[
385
Title
Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
].
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[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An alcohol decoction of the tuberous root is used in the treatment of scabies and has been found to be 100% effective against mites in humans[
1540
Title
Central Inhibitory Effects of the Methanol Extract of Neorautanenia mitis Root in Rats and Mice
Publication
Pharmaceutical Biology 2005, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 113-120
Author
Vongtau H.O.; Abba J.; Chindo B.A.; Mosugu O.; Salawu A.O.;
Website
http://10.1080/13880200590919401
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. Other ethnomedicinal uses of the root include the treatment of dysmenorrhea, employed as a cold-water decoction, neuropsychiatric disorders, and as an anticonvulsant[
1540
Title
Central Inhibitory Effects of the Methanol Extract of Neorautanenia mitis Root in Rats and Mice
Publication
Pharmaceutical Biology 2005, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 113-120
Author
Vongtau H.O.; Abba J.; Chindo B.A.; Mosugu O.; Salawu A.O.;
Website
http://10.1080/13880200590919401
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Studies have also shown that the methanol root extract of this plant possesses antinociceptive activity that may be both peripherally and centrally mediated[
1540
Title
Central Inhibitory Effects of the Methanol Extract of Neorautanenia mitis Root in Rats and Mice
Publication
Pharmaceutical Biology 2005, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 113-120
Author
Vongtau H.O.; Abba J.; Chindo B.A.; Mosugu O.; Salawu A.O.;
Website
http://10.1080/13880200590919401
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
A methanol extract of the powdered root possesses central effects that are sedative in nature. The study has therefore provided scientific evidence to show central depressant effects of this plant, thereby scientifically explaining and corroborating the traditional use of this plant, as well as confirming the presence of potentially useful pharmacologically active principles[
1540
Title
Central Inhibitory Effects of the Methanol Extract of Neorautanenia mitis Root in Rats and Mice
Publication
Pharmaceutical Biology 2005, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 113-120
Author
Vongtau H.O.; Abba J.; Chindo B.A.; Mosugu O.; Salawu A.O.;
Website
http://10.1080/13880200590919401
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The leaves and roots are used as an insecticide[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
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/
].
A decoction of the tuberous roots has been used for removing ticks from sheep and goats[
1415
Title
Plants of Possible Insecticidal Value - A Review of the Literature up to 1941
Publication
 
Author
McIndoo N.E.
Publisher
USDA; Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
Year
1945
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the insecticidal properties (or not) of almost 1,200 species of plant. Rather dated but still with information hard to obtain elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Intenet
].
An alcoholic extract of the roots has sometimes been efficient as a pesticide on the bean aphid, but were not reliable. The roots are not of commercial interest, but could be of value locally[
1415
Title
Plants of Possible Insecticidal Value - A Review of the Literature up to 1941
Publication
 
Author
McIndoo N.E.
Publisher
USDA; Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
Year
1945
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the insecticidal properties (or not) of almost 1,200 species of plant. Rather dated but still with information hard to obtain elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Intenet
].
Petroleum extracts of the plant have been shown to be effective in restricting the infestation of wheat grain and shelled maize by insect pests[
1539
Title
Evaluation of material from plants of medicinal importance in Malawi as protectants of stored grain against insects
Publication
Crop Protection Vol 15, Issue 3 May 1996, pp 289-294
Author
Chimbe C.M.; Galley D.J.
Website
https://doi.org/10.1016/0261-2194(95)00143-3
Publisher
 
Year
1996
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Neorautanenia+mitis>

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