Common Name:

General Information

Teramnus labialis is an extremely variable, prostrate or trailing, evergreen herbaceous plant, sometimes becoming woody at the base[, ]. The stems can be up to 3 metres long, scrambling over the ground or twining into the surrounding vegetation for support[, ]. Some forms are stoloniferous, spreading at the roots, whilst some can shed their leaves in dry periods[].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of edible seeds. It has been trialled as a pasture and agroforestry crop, but is only grown commercially in Cuba.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widely spread in the tropics, found though moister Africa, Asia from India through to New Guinea and west Pacific; Caribbean, C, America.

Habitat

Grasslands, grasslands with scattered trees, thickets, bushland, forest clearings, cultivation and along road edges[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level up to 3,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 27°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -3°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 750 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,500mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and in light shade[]. Tolerates a wide range of moist, fertile soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 8, tolerating 5 - 9[]. Established plants are relatively drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

Seed[, ]. Boiled or roasted[].

Medicinal

Plant extracts are used in natural medicines in India[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has grown well under citrus (Citrus sinensis), banana (Musa sp.) and coconut (Cocos nucifera)[]. It can be cut to provide green manure[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Generally, the seed does not require scarification. However, levels of hard seed can be high, and scarification may be necessary in some instances to achieve at least 50% 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[]. The seed can be broadcast or sown at 2 - 3 kilos per hectare in rows 50 - 75cm apart, and no more than 3 cm deep. Seed is small and seedling development relatively slow, so seed should be sown into a well-prepared seedbed, with the area rolled after sowing. Stands take 6 - 8 months to become established[].
Although this species appears somewhat promiscuous in relation to rhizobial requirements, inoculation with CB 756 (Australia) or an equivalent strain may be beneficial[].

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