Indigo, Natal indigo, Java indigo, Bengal indigo
Indigofera arrecta
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A herb or small shrub. It grows up to 2-4 m high. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are partly woody. The leaflets are slightly hairy. The flowers are pink or brown. There are 4-6 seeds.
There are about 700 Indigofera species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in tropical Africa in savannah.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Pan tropical, SE Asia, Senegal, Southern Africa, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The young leaves are eaten.
It is a cultivated plant.
Edible parts
Leaves, root, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Baludo, Banhepe, Bno, Caro, Carodim-o, Caromessem-o, Carre, Cham, El badaba, Gara, Garatchendo, Herchumen, Mon, Trum