Egyptian sesban, River-bean
Sesbania sesban

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to 6 m high. The bark is reddish-brown. The leaves are made up of 10-25 pairs of opposite leaflets. The leaflets are oblong. They can be 15 mm long by 3 mm wide. The flowers are yellow and pea shaped. The standard petal is often speckled with finely veined dark maroon. They occur in many flowered sprays. These are up to 15 cm long. The fruit are long slender pods. They are 30 cm long by 0.3 cm wide. They are often slightly curved.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in low lying areas usually near water. It can survive water-logging and salty soils. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 350-1,500 m above sea level. It grows in savannah woodland. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Andaman Is., Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo R, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, East Africa, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicobar Is.,Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Rodriques, Reunion, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sinai, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves and young flowers are eaten. They are often fried or pounded with rice and beans. The seeds are used for food in times of scarcity. (They have a protein inhibitor preventing the protein being well used.) The seeds are also fermented into a flavouring paste. The young tender pods are cooked or used in chutneys and salads.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Roots, seeds, fruit, flowers, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown as a hedge. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It is fast growing. It only lives for short time.

Its other names

Local names

Alambu, Arisina jeenangi, Barya-jantis, Champai, Checheko, Chithagathi, Chuchurangmei, Diendien, Ekad, Jaint, Jainti, Jait, Jarjan, Jayant, Jayanti, Jayantika, Jayantri, Jayat, Jayati, Jayatiphul, Jintri, Joyontri, Karijeenangimara, Karunchembai, Kedangu, Leihoihsing, Leiphagah, Mbondo, Muzimbandeya, Mwethia, Nellithalai, Raishingin, Rawasan, River bean, Samintha, Sassadenha, Sempa, Shevri, Shewarie, Suiminta, Thaitimul, Tingkwanga, Torero, Ye-thagyi, Zamarke

Synonyms

Aeschynomene sesban L.; Coronilla sesban (L.) Moench; Emeris sesban (L.) Hornem.; Sesbania aegyptiaca Pers.; Sesbania pachycarpa DC;