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Aeschynomene americana
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Family:
FABACEAE/LEGUMINOSAE (Subfam.: Papilionoideae)
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Citation: Aeschynomene americana L., Sp. Pl. 713. 1753; Maheswari & Paul, Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 72: 165. 1975; Chandrab. et al., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 18: 236. 1976; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 136. 1984; Sanjappa, Legumes Ind. 75. 1992; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 87. 1997; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 155. 2005.
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Malayalam Name(s):
American Joint Vetch
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Erect or decumbent herbs, to about 2 m tall; stems glandular-hispid to subglabrous. Leaves 2-7 cm long, about 20-60 foliolate, the petiole and rachis hispidulous; leaflets glabrous, subfalcate, 2-several-costate, 4-15 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, ciliate, apiculate, the base asymmetrically rounded; stipules peltate-appendiculate, glabrous or somewhat hispid at the point of attachment, striate, usually ciliate, 10-25 x 1-4 mm, the upper portion attenuate, 2-3 times longer than the lower, acute, or erose portion. Inflorescence axillary, racemose, few-flowered, the axes hispidulous; bracts cordate, acuminate or, sometimes, truncate-flabelliform, about 2-4 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, glabrous, ciliate; bracteoles linear to linear-ovate, 2-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide , acute to acuminate, serrate-ciliate. Flowers about 5-10 mm long. Calyx glabrous to hispidulous, bilabiate, 3-6 mm long;. Petals yellowish to tan, usually with red or purplish lines, glabrous. Fruit 2-3 cm long, 3-9 articulate, the stipe about 2 mm long, the articles semicircular, the upper margin essentially straight, the lower curved, 3-6 mm long, 2.5-5 mm wide, glandular-hispidulous, usually muricate, the margins thickened, reticulate-veiny; seeds dark brown, 2-3 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
September-December
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District(s):
Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikkode, Kannur, Malappuram
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Along road sides in moist locations
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Distribution:
Central America; now introduced and naturalised in some parts of Peninsular India
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Yellow
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Weed:
Yes
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Kattalappara, Upper Moozhiar, Ranni, Vayyattupuzha
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