Stain-pod
Flemingia grahamiana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It is erect and grows 1.8 m tall. It has deep roots that can form tubers. The leaves are alternate with 3 leaflets. The leaf stalk is 7 cm long. The leaflets are 2-15 cm long by 1-8 cm wide. The leaflet at the end is the largest. The flowers contain both sexes. The fruit is an inflated pod. It is 9-12 mm long by 6 mm wide. It contains 2 seeds. The seeds are round and 1.5 mm across. The fruit leaves stains when touched.

There are about 35 Flemingia species. It is a dye plant. It is also used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open savanna. It can be near water and rivers. It East Africa it grows to 2,100 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it grows between 480-1,800 m above sea level. In southern China it grows in forest between 900-1,600 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indochina, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. The plant can be cut back and will re-grow.

Its other names

Local names

Buandama, Kali-kalula, Mbutaya, Topmo Graham

Synonyms

Flemingia rhodocarpa Baker; Moghania grahamiana (Wight & Arn.) Kuntze; Moghania rhodocarpa (Baker) Hauman;