Phyllodium elegans
(Lour.) Desv.
Fabaceae
Desmodium blandum Meeuwen
Desmodium elegans (Lour.) Benth.
Dicerma elegans (Lour.) DC.
Hedysarum elegans Lour.
Meibomia elegans (Lour.) Kuntze
Zornia elegans (Lour.) Pers.
Common Name:
General Information
Phyllodium elegans is a perennial plant with slender, branching stems that become more or less woody. It can grow up to 2 metres tall[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
The species has a wide ecological and altitudinal range, some populations are known to occur within the protected areas network and no major threats to the species are currently known. 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
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.
Range
E. Asia - China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia (Java)
Habitat
Found on a wide range of soils from calcium-rich clay, red soils to sand, in habitats ranging from rather open old forest, secondary growth, dry grassy fields to cattle ground, and rice fallow; at elevations up to 600 metres, occ to 1,600 metres[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
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 roots is used in Thailand to relieve liver dysfunctions as well as in the treatment of some psychotic symptoms, including delirium, fibrillation and weight loss, believed to be caused by black magic. In Cambodia, the roots are employed in folk medicine to cure oedema in newborns[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
An infusion of the flowers is used to cure respiratory ailments[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The roots and leaves are used medicinally for reducing fever and as an antiphlogistic and diuretic[
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.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
