Horse bush tree, Sea vetch tree
Dendrolobium umbellatum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small tree or shrub. It can grow between 1.5 and 12.5 m tall. The stems are grey brown and finely rough. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They tend to be oval and 5.5-14 cm long by 1.6-10 cm wide. The leaflets are oval with silky hairs underneath. The leaflets are 3-5 cm long by 1.5-3 cm wide. The tip tends to be rounded. The leaf stalk is 2-3 cm long. The flowers are 1.5-2 cm long and have a scent. The flower clusters occur in the axils of leaves on very short stalks. The petals can be white or yellow and often there is a greenish patch near the base of the standard. They are 1 cm across. The fruit are pods 1-5 cm long. They become hard and woody. There are 2-7 segments in the pod. They are only slightly indented along the edge. It does not split open.

There are about 350 Desmodium species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it occurs from sea level to 180 m altitude. It grows along intertidal rivers and sandy shores and in lowland forests. It needs well drained soil. It needs a sunny position in the drier tropics. It grows near sea shores. It grows on sandy soils and also grows on soils with high pH. It is drought tolerant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mascarenes, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Ryuku, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are used as a vegetable. The roasted fruit are eaten in the Andaman Islands.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

It can grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Blanak, Chillagoe Pea, Damle, Daun buaya, Drejeg, Kenyere laut, Petai belalang, Petai laut, Pohon kanyere laut, Pohon petai laut, Renengan, Sna hua jia mu dou

Synonyms

Dendrolobium australe (Willd.) Benth.; Desmodium australe (Willd.) DC.; Desmodium umbellatum (L.) DC.; Hedysarum australe Roxb.; Hedysarum umbellatum L.; Ormocarpum umbellatum (L.) Desv.; and others