Common Name:

General Information

Rhynchosia pyramidalis varies from a small to large climbing plant with twining stems that are usually herbaceous but sometimes become more or less woody near their base[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Colombia; C. America - Panama, Nicaragua to Mexico; western Caribbean.

Habitat

Wet to dry thickets, often in second growth, frequent as a weed in hedges, sometimes in forest; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The seeds have narcotic properties and were utilized by some southern Mexican native peoples[].

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[].

Other Uses

The handsome seeds are used commonly for making bracelets and necklaces[]. The seeds are scarlet with a black side or end, or almost wholly black[].

The stems and leaves are used by washerwomen to scrub dirt from clothing[].

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[].

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