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Useful Tropical Plants

Rhynchosia insignis

(O.Hoffm.) R.E.Fr.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Eriosema insignis O.Hoffm.

Eriosema randii Baker f. & Haydon

Rhynchosia affinis De Wild.

Rhynchosia subaphylla Baker f.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Rhynchosia insignis is a very variable, erect pyrophytic perennial plant producing a cluster of branched stems from a woody rootstock. The sticky stems can become more or less woody and persist, they are usually 14 - 90cm tall, occasionally to 140cm[
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.
,
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.
,
1441
Title
Eminia, Rhynchosia et Vigna (Fabacées) à̀ complexes amylolytiques employés dans la région Zambésienne pour la fabric
Publication
Belgian Journal of Botany 125:41-60; January 1992
Author
Pauwels L.; Mulkay P.; Ngoy K.; Delaude C.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
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 - Angola, southern DR Congo, Tanzania,Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland; open Acacia woodland; Terminalia, Isoberlinia, Baphia bushland; burnt grassland and woodland; chipya grassland; dambo margins; often in rocky places; periodically flooded grassland; at elevations from 1,400 - 2,250 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 *  *  *
HabitShrub
Height0.75 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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

The roots are used as a sweetening agent when making a very popular, traditional, mildly alcoholic drink known as 'munkoyo beer'[
1441
Title
Eminia, Rhynchosia et Vigna (Fabacées) à̀ complexes amylolytiques employés dans la région Zambésienne pour la fabric
Publication
Belgian Journal of Botany 125:41-60; January 1992
Author
Pauwels L.; Mulkay P.; Ngoy K.; Delaude C.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 
,
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
 
]. The yellow roots are licorice-flavoured[
1441
Title
Eminia, Rhynchosia et Vigna (Fabacées) à̀ complexes amylolytiques employés dans la région Zambésienne pour la fabric
Publication
Belgian Journal of Botany 125:41-60; January 1992
Author
Pauwels L.; Mulkay P.; Ngoy K.; Delaude C.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The woody rootstock has a number of thick stems developing from the central apex - these can be around 4 - 6cm in diameter and are often horizontal[
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.
].

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-01. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Rhynchosia+insignis>

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