Aeschynomene americana

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 7 - 35°c^[1]. It is tolerant of occasional light frosts, but can be severely damaged or killed by heavier frosts^[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 600 - 4,000mm^[1]. Grows best in a sunny position^[1]. Found on soils ranging from gravels and sands to clays, but mostly on finer-textured soils^[1]. Plants are more tolerant of waterlogging and flooding than most warm season legumes, growth appearing to be favoured by periods of waterlogging and under such conditions, nitrogen-forming nodules tend to form at the base of the stem^[2]. The plant also tolerates at least some drought^{[3, 1]}. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4 - 8^[1]. The plant has become naturalized in many areas of the tropics, and is considered to be invasive in some Pacific Islands^[4]. It is not generally considered to be a serious weed^[2]. Flowering commences 60 - 200 days after germination, with another 30 - 60 days to ripe seed^[1]. Yields of dry matter may be 10 - 26 t/ha per year^[1]. 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^[5].