Labichea buettneriana
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A small shrub. It grows 1-1.7 m high and spreads 1-2 m wide. Young growth is densely hairy. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 13 cm long and the leaflets are 4.5 cm long by 2.2 cm wide. There are 3-13 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and darker on the upper surface. There are 9-22 flowers along a stalk. They are densely hairy and longer than the leaves. The flowers are about 3 cm across. They are yellow. The fruit are pods 2.8-3.8 cm long by 1.7 cm wide. They are obliquely oblong and have a beak.
There are about 14 Labichea species. They grow in Australia. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in NE Queensland in Australia. It is usually on sand dunes and sandy soils. It grows in places that are occasionally flooded.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The seeds are eaten, raw or cooked. The roots are eaten after roasting.
Edible parts
Roots, pods, seeds
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from treated seeds or from cuttings.