Sesbania speciosa
| Sesbania speciosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Sesbania |
| Species: | S. speciosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Sesbania speciosa | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Sesbania speciosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is a perennial shrub with six to ten flowered inflorescences, and brown, kidney-shaped seeds. The species is native to Africa, and has been introduced to Asia.
Sesbania speciosa was described in 1894, and is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Taxonomy
The species was described by Adolf Engler in 1894, following an invalid publication by Paul Hermann Wilhelm Taubert.[2]
Distribution
Sesbania speciosa is native to the seasonally dry tropical biome of Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozabique. It has been introduced to India, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.[2][1]
The species grows in seasonally flooded grasslands,[1] swamps and ditches, and on river banks, at elevations below 100 metres (330 ft).[3]
Description
Sesbania speciosa is a perennial shrub.[2] It grows 1–3 metres (3.3–9.8 ft) high.[3] The branchlets are obtusely angular.[4]
The leaves are up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long. The plant has around fifteen pairs of narrowly oblong leaflets. The leaflets are 2–2.5 centimetres (0.79–0.98 in) long, and 6–8 millimetres (0.24–0.31 in) long.[4]
The inflorescences have six to ten flowers. The flower stems are around 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long. The calyx is widely bell-shaped, around 8 millimetres (0.31 in) long, and has five teeth. The teeth are around 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) long. The vexillum is mottled with purple, broadly elliptical, around 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long, and around 2 centimetres (0.79 in) wide. The keel is around 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long.[4]
The fruit is up to 33 centimetres (13 in) long, and around 8 millimetres (0.31 in) wide. The seeds are dark brown, and roughly kidney-shaped.[4]
Uses
In Asia, Sesbania speciosa is cultivated for green manure, which is mainly used for rice farming.[1]
Conservation
In 2012, the IUCN assessed Sesbania speciosa as Vulnerable. Its habitat is affected by agriculture, including Jatropha and sugar plantations. The species is present in Saadani National Park.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 IUCN SSC East African Plants Red List Authority (2012). "Sesbania speciosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012 e.T179840A1591849. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T179840A1591849.en. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- 1 2 3 4 "Sesbania speciosa". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- 1 2 "Sesbania speciosa Taub". AfricanPlantDatabase.ch. African Plant Database. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Phillips, E.P. (1922). "A Revision of The African Species of Sesbania". Bothalia. 1 (1): 43. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
External links
Data related to Sesbania speciosa at Wikispecies