Dendrolobium umbellatum

Description

A small tree or shrub. It can grow between 1.5 and 12.5 m tall. The stems are grey brown and finely rough. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They tend to be oval and 5.5-14 cm long by 1.6-10 cm wide. The leaflets are oval with silky hairs underneath. The leaflets are 3-5 cm long by 1.5-3 cm wide. The tip tends to be rounded. The leaf stalk is 2-3 cm long. The flowers are 1.5-2 cm long and have a scent. The flower clusters occur in the axils of leaves on very short stalks. The petals can be white or yellow and often there is a greenish patch near the base of the standard. They are 1 cm across. The fruit are pods 1-5 cm long. They become hard and woody. There are 2-7 segments in the pod. They are only slightly indented along the edge. It does not split open.

Edible Uses

Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The roasted fruit are eaten, particularly in the Andaman Islands.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are used as a vegetable. The roasted fruit are eaten in the Andaman Islands.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant is considered astringent. A decoction of the leaves is drunk locally as a general tonic. The young leaves are an ingredient of a post-partum medicine used by women after childbirth. The crushed leaves and shoots are used to massage an enlarged spleen caused by malaria. A decoction of the leaves is used to bathe the body to prevent a slight chill developing into a fever. The leaves are used to treat scaly skin, A decoction of the flowers is administered to treat gonorrhoea and irregular menstruation.

Distribution

A tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it occurs from sea level to 180 m altitude. It grows along intertidal rivers and sandy shores and in lowland forests. It needs well drained soil. It needs a sunny position in the drier tropics. It grows near sea shores. It grows on sandy soils and also grows on soils with high pH. It is drought tolerant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mascarenes, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Rotuma, Ryuku, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed.

Other Uses

The wood can be used as posts, and small poles. The wood is used for fuel. The tree is suitable for protection planting and erosion control on beaches and sand dunes418].

Production

It can grow quickly.

Notes

There are about 350 Desmodium species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Blanak, Chillagoe Pea, Damle, Daun buaya, Drejeg, Kenyere laut, Petai belalang, Petai laut, Pohon kanyere laut, Pohon petai laut, Renengan, Sna hua jia mu dou

References (25)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 169 (As Desmodium umbellatum)
• Bhargava, N., 1983, Ethnobotanical Studies of the Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. 1. Onge. Economic Botany 37(1): 110-119 (As Desmodium umbellatum)
• Borrell, O.W., 1989, An Annotated Checklist of the Flora of Kairiru Island, New Guinea. Marcellin College, Victoria Australia. p 90 (As Desmodium umbellatum)
• 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 808 (As Desmodium umbellatum)
• Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 207

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