Fabaceae FAMILY

Vigna vexillata

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

1/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Vigna vexillata is a very variable, perennial climbing plant producing annual 0.3 - 6 metres long stems from a tuberous, spindle-shaped, woody rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground and twine into the surrounding vegetation[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The plant is a very important food crop in several areas, such as Namibia, where it is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. Its use has spread beyond its native range and the plant is now sometimes cultivated for its edible tubers. It is also grown as a green manure and ground cover crop, especially in poor soils.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangePantropical - probably originating in the Old World tropics with centres of diversity in southeast Africa and southeast Asia.

HabitatGrassland; grassland with scattered trees; thicket; Acacia, Commiphora bushland; forest; abandonned cultivations; near beach behind dunes; secondary formations; meadows; sunny places; grassy inundated plain; etc[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ].