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Cajanus kerstingii

Harms

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds, Leaves

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

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Cajanus kerstingii is a widely ignored shrub found mostly in open savannah conditions across western Africa. It is closely related to the widely utilised Cajanus cajan, otherwise known as pigeon pea. Cajanus kerstingii can be consumed by humans as a cereal, pulse, fibre or forage. Unfortunately, very little data exists for this plant, but "one may reasonably expect it to be of value".

Description

A shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The branches and leaves underneath have short white silky hairs.

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Edible Uses

Both the seeds and leaves are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open savannah.

Where It Grows

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, West Africa*,

Cultivation

It can be grown by seed.

References (2)

  • Kew Plants of the World Online
  • World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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