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Useful Tropical Plants

Rhynchosia suaveolens

(L.f.) DC.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Glycine suaveolens L.f.

Hedysarum venosum Rottler

Common Name:

No Image.

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 *  *
HabitShrub
Height0.50 m
PollinatorsBees
Cultivation StatusWild

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Rhynchosia+suaveolens>

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