Sensitive joint vetch
Aeschynomene indica

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect annual or perennial plant. It grows in water. It is 1.5-2 m tall. The leaves have an even number of leaflets along the stalk. There are 20 or more pairs. They do not have leaf stalks. They are 3-8 mm long by 1-3 mm wide. The flowers are yellow streaked with orange, brown or purple. They are pea like or like a butterfly. The fruit are narrow pods. They are 3-4 cm long and 3-4 mm wide They break into several one seeded sections.

There are 150 Aeschynomene species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in marshes. It can grow on sandy or clayey soils and the edges of creeks. It grows in wet grassland savannah. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Caribbean, China, East Africa, Fiji, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Pohnpei, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten. The leaves are eaten fresh or parboiled and added to soups. They can also be cooked as a potherb or stir-fried. The whole plant is dried in the shade, finely chopped, roasted and used as a tea substitute.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Angiquinho, Baombary, Budda pea, Curly indigo, Dienma an, Hard sola, He meng, Hiamotra, Ikin sihk, Kath shola, Kat sola, Kuhila, Kusanemu, Lajuari, Laugauni, Maricazinho, Nay-bin, Nellithalli, Papquinha, Pinheirinho, Ramianoka, Ramiavona, Rut nuoc, Sano hin, Snao ach moen, Soyo-nyika, Tchilambou, Tiga jiluga, Vatshola

Synonyms

Aeschynomene oligantha Welw. ex Baker;