Birdsville Indigo, Nine-leaved Indigo
Indigofera linnaei

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small shrub which lies along the ground and spreads 1-1.5 m wide. The branches are 4 angled and grey. The leaves are compound. The plant is hairy. The leaves have 5-9 leaflets. The leaflets are 14 mm long and 2-8 mm wide. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The flower standard is red. The pod is straight and cylinder shaped. It is 5 mm long with 2 seeds.

There are about 500-700 Indigofera species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics. The plant causes illness in horses.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India, Indochina, SE Asia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Caution:

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bekario, Bhingule, Bhonyagali, Cham linne, Cheragadam, Cherru-palate, Fatakiya, Kennegilu, Latahai, Leel, Pita saga, Sheppunerunji, Vasuka, Yerra palleru

Synonyms

Hedysarum prostratum L.; Indigofera dominii Eichler; Indigofera enneaphylla L.; Indigofera enneaphylla Eckl. & Zeyh.; and others