Rhynchosia suaveolens
(L.f.) DC.
Fabaceae
Glycine suaveolens L.f.
Hedysarum venosum Rottler
Common Name:
General Information
Rhynchosia suaveolens is a perennial plant with trailing stems that are more or less woody; it can grow 30 - 90cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka
Habitat
Dry forests; at elevations up to 900 metres.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Seeds are taken as food in boiled form, roasted form or in their natural state[
1587- Title
- Genetic Resources of Under-exploited Legumes/Tribal Pulses of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu
- Publication
- J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. Vol. 35 No.2 (2011)
- Author
- Kalidass C. & Mohan V.R.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. The seedpods are 15mm long and 8mm wide, containing two small seeds[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
The plant is used medicinally. It has been shown to have antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-fertility and antipyretic effects , and also to reduce blood sugar levels and thus have a beneficial effect in the treatment of diabetes[
1589- Title
- Antidiabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Rhynchosia suaveolens (L.f.) DC. in Streptazotocin induced
- Publication
- Int. J. Res. Pharm. Sci., 8(4), 596-602 2017
- Author
- Vinoth Kumar S.; Gopal V. & Devanna N.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2017
- ISBN
- 0975-7538
- Description
-
].
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.
