Psophocarpus grandiflorus
Psophocarpus grandiflorus
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Species in this genus generally require a sunny position, growing best in a moist but well-drained, slightly acid loamy soil[1]. Plants do not flower if growing in the shade (unless the higher shoots grow into the sun) or in high nutrient soils[2]. 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[1].
Propagation
Seed - requires pre-treatment. Pre-soaking for 12 - 24 hours in warm water should soften the hard seedcoat and allow the seed to swell. If it does not swell, then making a small nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) should allow the seed to take up water[PFAF]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Psophocarpus+grandiflorus>
Pollinators
Bees
References
- [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [2]Uses, Nutritional Composition, and Ecogeography of Four Species of Psophocarpus (Fabaceae, Phaseoleae) in Zaire — Harder D.; Lolema O.P.M. & Tshisand M. · 1990 · http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255258. ↩︎
- [3]African Flowering Plants Database — Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. · http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php ↩︎Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
- [4]A Revision of Psophocarpus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae-Phaseoleae) — Verdcourt B. & Halliday P. · 1978 · http://10.2307/4109575 ↩︎
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎