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Sesbania grandiflora
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Scarlet Wistaria Tree, Petai Belalang, Red Wisteria, Agathi, Sesban, Vegetable Hummingbird, Getih, Kachang Turi, West Indian Pea Tree, Daun Turi, Turi, 大花田菁, 木田菁 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Asia. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree or a large shrub, growing up to 15m tall and 30cm in trunk diameter. |
|---|---|
| Roots | The roots have a large nodules. |
| Foliage | Its alternately-arranged leaves are bi-pinnately compound, with 20 - 50 leaflets and up to 30cm long. Each leaflet is oblong to elliptical and are 1.2 - 4.4cm long and 0.5 - 1.5cm wide. |
| Flowers | The large, butterfly-shaped flowers are borne on leaf axils and range in colour from white to yellow, pink or red. |
| Fruit | The fruit is a linear to slightly slightly curved pod. |
| Habitat | It grows in dry or moist lowland forests. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves, Edible Flowers Food (Fruit & Vegetable): The flowers, young leaves and seed pods are eaten as vegetable in Southeast Asia. Agriculture - Forestry: The leaves and fruits are used as green manure. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, Purple, Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1827 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3120 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
