White pea bush, Swamp corkwood, White dragon tree, Dragon flower tree, Water tree, Swampy corkwood
Sesbania formosa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect slender tree. It grows 10-15 m high. The leaves have leaflets. The whole leaf is 20-40 cm long. It is divided into pairs of oblong leaflets. These are 3-6 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. They have a small pointed tip. The flowers are large and white. They are pea flowers. These are 7-12 cm long in groups along stalks with 2-7 flowers. The fruit is a long and smooth pod. It is 40-60 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. These are straight or slightly curved. They hang down. They are cream-brown when ripe. They contain many shiny brown seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical or monsoonal Australia. They grow naturally on black soils on the fringes of flood plains. They will grow on a wide range of well-drained soils. It grows from sea level to 100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, East Timor, SE Asia, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The flowers are edible raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed of cuttings. The seeds should be treated with hot water before planting.

It is a very fast growing plant.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Agati formosum F. Muell.; Sesbania grandiflora Poir.;