Rhynchosia memnonia (Del.) DC.

Leguminosae

Synonyms

• Rhynchosia ferruginea Broun & Massey, non A. Rich.

Common names

Rhynchosia

Description

Small perennial, herbaceous, erect, climber with densely pubescent stems and leaves. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets orbicular or broadly ovate 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter. Flowers yellow, 1cm long, in lax 2 to 12 flowered racemes, 5-10 cm long. Pods more or less falcate, 2 cm long x 5 mm wide, softly pubescent.

Distribution

Widepread in the South Sahelian and North Sudanian ecozones, East and South Africa, India and the subtropical zones of West Asia and naturalized in North Australia (Queensland) North and South America and the Carribean. Has become pan-tropical species.

Variability

There are many cultivars and ecotypes.

Nutritional Quality and Animal Production

Palatability is said to be variable, depending on the genetic material concerned. It is rather more fit for cattle grazing than for sheep. CP content is ca 15 % and digestibility of the DM ca 60 %, daily intake in cattle reaches some 3.5 % of liveweight.

References

Andrews 1952 ; Whyte et al. 1955 ; Hutchinson et al. 1958 ; Gillett et al. 1971 ; Berhaut 1976 ; Baumer 1975 ; Skerman et al. 1991 ; Burkill 1995.