Desmodium elegans
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Desmodium genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Desmodium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Spread
- 1.5 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The roots are carminative, diuretic and tonic[8][11]. They are used in the treatment of bilious complaints[8][9].The juice of the root, sometimes combined with the bark juice of Bauhinia malabarica, is used in the treatment of cholera[11]. The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of peptic ulcers[11].
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A fibre from the bark is used for ropes and paper making[2][3]. The wood is a good fuel[2][3].
- Product or use
- Fibre
- Product or use
- Fuel
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Himalayas to W. China.
- Habitat
- Dry grassy slopes and in glades in deodar forests to 2700 metres[2]. Forest margins, forests, thickets, mountain slopes, rocky places, roadsides and ditches at elevations of 1000 - 4000 metres[10].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Scarify and pre-soak stored seed for 5 hours in warm water then sow March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates within 1 - 4 months at 25°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer and consider giving them some protection from frost in their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame. Division as the plant comes into growth in the spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Root cuttings in winter.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils so long as they are well-drained[5][7]. Requires a sunny sheltered position[4][5]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[6]. Requires long hot summers to be at its best, the flowers are produced on the current years growth and do not open in cold wet seasons[1]. Plants send up new shoots 1 - 1.5m long annually from a woody base[1]. If the plant is not cut back to the ground by winter cold then it is best to prune it hard in late winter in order to encourage better flowering[5]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[7].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00
Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6