Robust pioneer creeper, Kudzu vine, Perennial soybean
Neonotonia wightii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climbing or trailing bean plant. It is a herb that keeps growing from year to year. The stems are woody at the base. Plants can be 4.5 m long. The stems can be covered with rusty hairs. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 2-15 cm long by 1-13 cm wide. They are oval and rounded at the base. They are hairy on both surfaces. The leaf stalks are 2-12 cm long. The flower cluster can have 20 to 150 flowers. The flower standard is reddish blue and can have white patches. The fruit are oblong pods 2-4 cm long and 2-5 mm wide. They can have rusty coloured hairs. The pods are somewhat restricted between the seeds. The seeds are reddish brown and oblong. They are 2-4 mm long and 1.5-2.8 mm wide. They have a finely rough surface.

It is being used as a tropical pasture legume.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it grows between 1500-1650 m altitude. It needs are annual rainfall of 750-1525 mm. It needs good quality soils. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, India, Indonesia, Hawaii, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Reunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten.

The leaves are widely used in Malawi.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kattumochai, Yembe

Synonyms

Glycine wightii (Wight & Arn.) Verdc.; Johnia wightii Wight & Arn.; Notonia wightii Wight & Arn.;