Common Name:

General Information

Vigna trilobata is an annual to perennial, prostrate plant producing stems 30 - 60cm long[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is occasionally grown as a food for local use and is also used as a green manure.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea.

Habitat

Found in a wide range of conditions, especially near forest edges and on waste land at elevations up to 2,100 metres in India[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,100 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 31°c, but can tolerate 18 - 35°c[]. The plant can survive temperatures down to about -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 900mm, but tolerates 520 - 1,440mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and in light shade[]. Succeeds in a range of soils, including heavy clay soils that crack in dry conditions[]. Plants can tolerate occasional waterlogging of the soil[]. Tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 8.5, tolerating 6.5 - 9[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
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

Seed - cooked[, ]. Usually only eaten by poorer people[].

Immature seedpods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. The cylindrical pods are 15 - 50mm long, containing 6 - 12 seeds[, ].

Leaves and young shoots. They are cut into small pieces and cooked with salt and chilli, and garnished with mustard seeds, curry leaves and onions in oil[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plants ability to thrive under drought conditions and to produce high levels of nitrogen in the soil make it an excellent pioneer green manure crop in semi-arid regions[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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