Rhynchosia longeracemosa
M.Martens & Galeotti
Fabaceae
Dolicholus longeracemosus M.Martens & Galeotti
Common Name:
General Information
Rhynchosia longeracemosa is an evergreen climbing shrub with twining stems; it can grow 3 - 5 metres tall[
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
The plant has been used as an hallucinogen and narcotic[
].
Botanical References
Range
C. America - Costa Rica, north to Guatemala, southern and eastern Mexico
Habitat
Deciduous tropical forest, oak forest and mixed pine-oak forest; at elevations from 150 - 1,300 metres[
]. Moist or wet thickets or forest, sometimes in oak forest, often on limestone; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres[
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/
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A poultice made from the root of this species, combined with the root of Lasianthus axillaris, is used to treat pellagra[
].
The seeds have narcotic properties and were utilized by some southern Mexican native peoples[
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.
].
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.
