Hylodesmum podocarpum subsp. oxyphyllum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has erect stems 50-110 cm tall.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It needs a well-drained soil and sunny position. In subtropical SE Asia it grows between 1,100-1,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are cooked and eaten. They are steamed or ground into a powder.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Stored seed can develop a hard seed coat which needs to be scratched and broken. This can be done by putting in warm but not boiling water.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Desmodium fallax Schindler var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Nakai; Desmodium mandshuricum (Maxim.) Schindler; Desmodium oxyphyllum DC.; Desmodium oxyphyllum DC. var. japonicum Matsum.; Desmodium oxyphyllum DC. var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) H. Ohashi; Desmodium podocarpum DC. var. mandshuricum Maxim.; Desmodium podocarpum DC. var. oxyphyllum (DC.) H. Ohashi; Desmodium podocarpum DC. var. polyphyllum Maxim.; Desmodium podocarpum DC. var. typicum Maxim.; Desmodium racemosum (Thunb.) DC.; Desmodium racemosum (Thunb.) DC. var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Ohwi; Hedysarum racemosum Murray; Hedysarum racemusum Thunb.; Podocarpium podocarpum (DC.) Y.C. Yang. var. oxyphyllum (DC.) Y.C. Yang & P. H. Huang;