Sesbania macrantha
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A slender shrub. It has soft wood. It grows 2-6 m tall. One variety has prickles. The leaves are 10-33 cm long. There are 15-55 pairs of leaflets. These are 14-31 mm long by 3-8 mm wide. There are 6-20 flowers in a group 11-27 cm long. The fruit are pods 14-31 cm long by 4-7 mm wide. They are curved. There are 12-30 seeds in a pod.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in tall grassland between 2,000-2,300 m above sea level in East Africa.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia
How it is used for food
The seed coat is removed by roasting and then the seeds eaten as a famine food.
It is a famine food.
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
It only grows for one year.