Sunhemp
Crotalaria juncea
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows to 2.5 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect, with silky hairs on the branches. The plant has a strong taproot. The roots have root nodules which have branches and lobes, and are 25 mm across. The leaves are narrow, simple and spirally arranged. The leaves can be 12 cm long and with short leaf stalks. The flowers are bright yellow and pea shaped. They occur in clusters of up to 20 blooms. The fruit is a short, inflated, light yellow pod. It is about 3 cm long and 1 cm wide. It is covered with soft hairs, has a groove on the upper surface and a beak at the end. The mature seeds are loose in the pod. They are dark grey, broad and flattened and hooked.
There are about 550 Crotalaria species. They are mostly tropical. The plant is grown for its fibres. Chemical composition (g/100g of seed powder): Moisture = 10.2. Ash = 4.0. Ether extractives = 3.9. Nitrogen-free extract = 59.6. Protein (crude) (N x 6.25) = 30.1. Fibre (crude) = 8.7. Calcium (mg/100 g) = 20. Phosphorus (mg/100 g) = 371.0. Iron (mg/100g) = 28.9. Nacin (mg/100g) = 2.95. Ascorbic acid (mg/100 g) = 1.39. Total soluble carbohydrates and total reducing substances (27 deg. (+/-3 deg. C ): total water soluble carbohydrates = 14.9. Total benzoic acid soluble carbohydrates = 18.1. Total 5% TCA soluble carbohydrates = 26.7. Total reducing substances = 0.13. (100o C): total water soluble carbohydrates = 17.2. Total benzoic acid soluble carbohydrates = 23.8. Total 5% TCA soluble carbohydrates = 31.5. Total reducing substances = - . A new amino acid - strongly nihydrin positive - has also been found in the seeds.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It prefers light to medium well drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is drought resistant but frost tender. In Nepal it grows to about 1300 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The leaves have been recorded as being eaten. The flowers are pickled. They are also cooked with meat and fish.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers, pods, seeds
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. Seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat before planting. Plants can also be grown from cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Boru, Bumpo, Ghore sun, Janumu, Kork tong, Oohawaimaton, Pan-paiksan, Pikesan, San, Sana, Sanabu, Sanai, Sanal, Sann hemp, Sannai sunn, Sannappu, Saun, Senabina soppu, Shon, Shonpat, Sunn hemp, Tag, Tum-thang, U Hawai matol, Vihagiguni, Wuckoo nar