Alyce, Buffalo Clover
Alysicarpus vaginalis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A spreading low lying shrub or herb. It has many stems. They are 10-60 cm long. These spread out from a rootstock which continues to live from year to year. The leaf has one leaflet. The leaflet is oblong or sword shaped and 0.5-6.6 cm long by 0.3-2.6 cm wide. The leaflets are dark green above and pale underneath. They are oval and have netted veins. They can be notched or with a tip at the end. The flowers are small and not easily seen. They are 6 mm long at the ends of branches. The flowers occur in clusters 2-13 cm long. The flower colour varies. The pods are deep red and not quite round. They stick upwards. They contain 4-7 seeds. The seeds are brown and sometimes they are mottled.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 840 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 200 and 1200 m altitude. It grows in bare patches in grassland. It grows on sandy sea sides. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Fiji, Guam, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Tuvalu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The herb is eaten.

An emergency or famine food used in India. It is used in medicine for coughs. It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Herb, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Plants were flowering and fruiting in March to May in northern Australia. A plant will continue to grow for 3 years.

Its other names

Local names

Brobos, Brobos sapi, Gude oyod, Hange-the, Lian jia dou, One-leaf clover, Sesenep, Tebalan, Than-ma-naing-kyauk-ma-naing, Vihafilaa, White moneywort

Synonyms

Hedysarum vaginale L.; Hedysarum nummularifolium L.; Alysicarpus nummularifolius (L.) A. de Candolle; Alysicarpus vaginalis var. diversifolius Chun;