Crotalaria macrocalyx
Benth.
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(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) AMADOU BAHLEMAN FARID, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A small shrub. It has deep roots and keeps growing from year to year. It produces branched stems each year. These can be 30-90 cm long.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
Young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, often in stews, or dried and stored for later use.
Traditional Uses
The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used in stews. Leaves can be dried and stored.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Known Hazards
No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this genus are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, the most potent of which in this genus are monocrotaline, retrorsine and retronecine. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional consumption is generally completely safe. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many of these alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the savannah.
Where It Grows
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Sahel, Senegal, West Africa,
Cultivation
Found in the wild on clay soils. The plant grows wild on sandy and gravelly soils. We have no specific report for this species, but most species in this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.
Propagation
Seed - pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water can help to reduce germination time. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown in situ. Otherwise sow in trays in a nursey and, when the seedlings are large enough to handle, pot them up into individual pots. Plant out when 15cm or more tall.
References (2)
- Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
- N'Danikou, S. et al, 2010, Eliciting Local Values of Wild Edible Plants in Southern Bénin to Identify Priority Species for Conservation. Economic Botany, 20(10), 2011, pp. 1–15.
