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Fabaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Eysenhardtia polystachya

Eysenhardtia polystachya

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
4/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Shrub
Growth—

Eysenhardtia polystachya is native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Mexico, growing in regions where the mean annual rainfall can range from 250 - 1,750mm. Prefers a position in full sun, tolerating light shade. The plant is very tolerant of being cut back, sprouting freely from old wood[1]. The wood has a very interesting property of flourescence. When soaked in slightly alkaline spring water, it imparts a blue colour to the water when it is viewed against a dark background. In the light this changes to a yellow to orange-gold colour and different hues can be obtained when it is viewed against other backgrounds[1]. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[2].

Propagation

Seed - Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Eysenhardtia+polystachya>

Pollinators

Bees

References

  1. [1]The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation — Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. · University of Wisconsin · 1981 · ISBN 0-333-32221-5 ↩︎An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
  2. [2]Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy — United States Department of Agriculture · http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en ↩︎An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
  3. [3]Revisión del género Eysenhardtiaa (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). — Ramiro Cruz Durán · Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México · 2006 ↩︎
  4. [4]Eysenhardtia (Leguminosae): Taxonomic revision and relationships — Lang J.M. · Iowa State University · 1972 · http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/4750 ↩︎
  5. [5]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  6. [6]Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North, — Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M. · 2014 ↩︎A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
  7. [7]The Ethanolic Extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ort.) Sarg. Bark and Its Fractions Delay the Progression of Rheum — Saudy Saret Pablo-Pérez et al · 2018 ↩︎
  8. [8]Activity of extracts from two Eysenhardtia species against microorganisms related to urinary tract infections — C. Rivas-Morales et al · 2009 ↩︎
  9. [9]Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant and antiglycating activities of the Eysenhardtia polystachya — Rosa Martha Perez Gutierrez, Efren Garcia Baez · 2014 · http://10.4103/0973‑1296.133295 ↩︎
  10. [10]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/