Crotalaria cleomifolia
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A semi-woody shrub. It grows 2-4 m high. The leaves are compound. They have 3-5 leaflets each 5-11 cm long. The flowers are yellow. They are in groups 20-40 cm long at the ends of branches. The fruit are pods 4-5 cm long and contain 30-40 seeds.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in grassy or wooded savannah in damp sites near streams in West Africa. It grows between 1,150-2,650 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Indochina, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The leaves are cooked and eaten as a green vegetable.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds. They can also be grown from semi-ripe cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Sucsac la-mangmang, Zumba