Aeschynomene indica L.

Leguminosae

Synonyms

• Aeschynomene cachemiriana Camb.
• Aeschynomene glaberrima Poir.
• Aeschynomene pumila L.
•  many others.

There are some 100 species in the genus Aeschynomene in Africa (Lock, 1989), 50 in East Africa (Gillett et al. in Milne-Redhead & Polhill, 1971), 20 in W Africa (Hutchinson & al., 1958 and 6 or 8 in the Sahel (Andrews, 1952, Berhaut, 1967, 1976), most are unpalatable annuals growing on deep alluvial clay soils subject to flooding or to water-logging. One single species is reported as good fodder to ruminants, although toxic to equines. Reports from India indicate a similar situation as regards grazing use.

Budda pea (Australia).

An erect, sub-shrubby, generally annual but sometimes perennial herb, 0.3 to 2.5 m tall. Stems mostly slender, about 5 mm wide at the base, but sometimes thick and spongy and up to 2.5 cm wide, pubescent with rather sparse, tubercular-based, sometimes glandular hairs. Leaves sometimes sensitive, 16- to 50- (sometimes 70) foliate. Leaflets linear-oblong, 0.3 to 1.3 cm long, 1 to 3 mm wide, rounded and mucronate at the apex, obliquely rounded at the base, entire or very finely serrulate, glabrous. Stipules elliptic-lanceolate, straight, spurred, 0.3 to 1.5 cm long, 1 to 3.5 mm wide, deciduous. Inflorescences leaf opposed or axillary, one- to six-flowered. Rachis 1.5 to 6 cm long. Peduncle 0.8 to 2.1 cm long. Pedicel 1 to 2 and finally up to 8 cm long. Calyx glabrous, two lipped, the lips oblong, 4 to 6 mm long, 2 to 3 mm wide. Standard yellow or whitish, mostly lined and suffused with red outside, or purplish, elliptic, 0.7 to 1 cm long, 4 to 7 mm wide. Wings and keel greenish white or pale yellow, the petals of the keel not laciniate. Pod linear, straight or slightly curved, 2.4 to 4.8 cm long excluding the 6 to 9 mm stipe, 5 to 13 jointed, one suture more or less straight, the other slightly constructed between the articles. Articles oblong, 3 to 5 mm long and as wide, compressed with sparse, short, tubercular-based hairs, central part raised. Seed dark olive-black or brownish, oblong, slightly beaked near the eccentric small hilum, 2.8 x 2.55 mm, 1.3 to 1.8 mm thick (Gillett, Polhill and Verdcourt, 1971).

Mostly found in wet and muddy places on flood plains, in seasonal swamps and around the margins of more permanent swamps into quite dry country. Often growing together with Sesbania spp. and Acacia nilotica subsp. tomentosa. In Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, it is among the pioneering annuals that colonize paddy fields when cultivation stops. It occurs from sea level to 1500 m altitude.

Occurring on deep clay soils subject to flooding and to water logging.

Widespread in tropical Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and from northern Somalia southward to the Transvaal and Namibia, throughout the South Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones and also on Sao Tome and Madagascar. Widespread also in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia and North America. In Australia, it occurs as far south as northern New South Wales and the northern parts of the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. The North American material is often identified as A. evenia. However, Rudd (1959) states that the two are distinct species, both of which occur in North America.

Sometimes utilized as green manure; could be utilized as a fodder crop in rotation with rice, or to make use of water logged depressions for biomass production of green manure. Of low to moderate palatability, it is not readily eaten but is generally considered a useful legume where it occurs. There is some suspicion of occasional toxicity. Boyland (1974) indicated strong field evidence of toxicity in western Queensland, Australia, and Bogdan (1977) reported the death of animals in Malawi. Stock deaths implicating A. indica have been reported also from Papua New Guinea (Papua New Guinea, 1961). Nodulation has been reported from Queensland (Bowen, 1956) and Mali (Sanogho, 1977), the latter estimating nitrogen-fixing abilities of the different strains of nodule bacteria isolated. Many medicinal uses : spermicidal, contains an unidentified alkaloid. Used as charcoal for gun powder and medicinal applications. The pith from the stem is light and bouyant ; stems are used as floaters for fish nets and fish lines, also for rafts and other objects.

20n = 40.

Gillett, Polhill and Verdcourt 1971 ; Andrews 1952 ; Hutchinson & al 1958 ; Berhaut 1976 ; Baumer 1975 ; Burkill 1995.