Sakhino, Sakina, Kathai
Indigofera heterantha

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is brown. The leaves have short stalks. They have leaflets along the stalk and the leaflets are opposite. They end in a sharp tip and are somewhat leathery. They are covered with short white hairs above and grey underneath. The flowers are pink. They are in short stalked arrangements. There are 10-20 flowers in a group. The fruit is a pod. It is like a cylinder with a few scattered hairs. It has 10-12 seeds.

There are about 500-700 Indigofera species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows between 600-3100 m altitude. It grows in open, moist places. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, NW India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tasmania, Tibet

How it is used for food

The flowers are boiled and used as a vegetable and also pickled.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Kali, Kathi, Shakina

Synonyms

Indigofera gerardiana var. heterantha (Wall. ex Brandis) Baker; Indigofera gerardiana Wall.;