Desmodium sequax

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The young branches have rust coloured hairs. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The end leaflet is oval and 4-10 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are in groups 12 cm long at the ends of branches. The flowers are purple. The pod is 3-5 cm long by 3 mm wide. It has rust coloured hairs.

It is an antioxidant as medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on grassy slopes and the edges of forests between 1,000-2,800 m above sea level in southern China. in Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

It can be grown from fresh seed. Stored seed develops a hard seed coat.

Its other names

Local names

Trangqua deo

Synonyms

Demodium sinuatum (Miq.) Baker; Desmodium strangulatum Wight & Arn. var. sinuatum Miq.; Dollinera sequax (Wallich) Schindler;