Rhynchosia heterophylla
Hauman
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Rhynchosia heterophylla is an erect perennial plant producing a cluster of more or less woody stems around 60cm tall growing from a stout, woody rootstock. The stems have dark red glands and are sticky; they can be stout or slender[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its root, which is one of several species used locally to make a very popular alcoholic beverage known as 'munkoyo beer'.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Tropical Africa - southern Tanzania, southern DR Congo, Zambia, northern Zimbabwe
Habitat
Brachystegia, Diplorhynchus secondary woodland; Brachystegia, Isoberlinia woodland; plateau woodland on laterite; rocky hills; wooded savannah; at elevations from 900 - 1,300 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
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The roots are used as a sweetening agent when making a very popular, traditional, mildly alcoholic drink known as 'munkoyo beer'[
1443- Title
- Flavonoids from the roots of two Rhynchosia species used in the preparation of a Zambian beverage
- Publication
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 65(3):347 - 354 July 1994
- Author
- Zulu R.; Renée Grayer J.; Ingham J.L.; Harborne J.B.; Eagles
- Website
- http://10.1002/jsfa.2740650313
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
We have seen no specific entry for this species, but all members of this genus have at least some merit for use as a ground cover and in local soil conservation projects[
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.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried 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.
].
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.
