Hairy Indigo, Silky indigo
Indigofera astragalina
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An erect herb. It grows 40-70 cm tall. It is hairy. The stems are soft. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-13 leaflets. These can be 2-5 cm long. The flowers are small and reddish or purple. They are in groups 2-10 cm long.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 650-800 mm per year and a temperature between 21°-32° C.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Botswana, China, East Africa,India, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, West Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The seeds are pounded with rice and eaten as a cake.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds
How it is grown
In India seeds are produced May to December.