Chamaecrista pumila

(Lam.) K.Larsen

Fabaceae Edible: Leaves 19 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Chamaecrista pumila is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to China and Tropical Asia. It grows up to 25–75 cm (9.8–29.5 in) tall.

Description

A low lying herb. It grows 20-40 cm tall and spreads 0.5-1 m wide. The stems arise from a woody rootstock. The leaves are 1 cm long. There are 10-15 pairs of leaflets. These are about 1 cm long and very narrow. The flowers are 2 cm across. The occur singly in the axils of upper leaves. The flowers are yellow. The pods are 2-2.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide and flattened.

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in arid areas.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.

Other Uses

The plant is cultivated as a green manure and soil protector. A useful ground cover and green manure, competing well with weeds. It is recommended in tea plantations in Indonesia.

Notes

There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Synonyms

Cassia prostrata Roxb.Cassia pumila Lam.Chamaecrista pumila (Lam.) V. SinghSenna prostrata Roxb.

Also Known As

Muong dat, Muong lun, Nallajiluga, Nelatagache, Sarmal

References (7)

Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 110 (As Cassia pumila)
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 484 (As Cassia pumila)
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 474 (As Cassia pumila)
Encycl. 1:651. 1785 (As Cassia pumila)
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFlora.org (As Cassia pumila)

Show all 7 references