Pseudarthria hookeri
Wight & Arn.
Fabaceae
Anarthrosyne densiflora Klotzsch
Anarthrosyne robusta E.Mey.
Desmodium kerstenii O.Hoffm.
Pseudarthria alba A.Chev.
Pseudarthria robusta (E.Mey.) Schltr.
Common Name:
General Information
Pseudarthria hookeri is an erect, perennial plant growing from a thick, rhizomatous rootstock. Growing from 30 - 400cm tall, the stems can become more or less woody and persist[
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is potentially useful as a green manure and can be grown as an ornamental[
1567- Title
- Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported Vol. 63
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- USDA; Government Printing Office; Washington
- Year
- 1923
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Details of seeds imported for trials by the United States Department of Agriculture in the months of April and May of 1920, often detailing the uses of the plant and various other miscellaneous information. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
Range
Africa - widespread in central and eastern Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, south to Angola and eastern S.Africa, Madagascar
Habitat
Coarse lowland to upland grassland, wooded and bushed grassland, open woodland, scrub, sometimes gregarious in savannah; locally common; also by rivers in rocky places, old cultivations and plantations[
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 |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 2.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, 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[
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
The plant is used in the treatment of bronchial affections, quinsy, fever pains and dysentery[
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 root is considered to be generally healing and aphrodisiac. It is used to treat epilepsy, stomach problems, dysentery and venereal diseases[
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/
,
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.
,
]. The powdered root forms an ingredient of an aphrodisiac medicine in western Africa[
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.
].
The leaves are used to treat eye problems[
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/
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant has potential for use as a green manure[
1567- Title
- Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported Vol. 63
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- USDA; Government Printing Office; Washington
- Year
- 1923
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Details of seeds imported for trials by the United States Department of Agriculture in the months of April and May of 1920, often detailing the uses of the plant and various other miscellaneous information. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
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.
