+ Species of the Genus Sesbania The Genus Sesbania has 60 species that are currently accepted with about 39 species still unresolved. The largest number of species are found in Africa, and the remainder in Australia, Hawaii, and Asia. The eight species which is used in cooking are: 1- Species Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.Wight - Spiny sesbania 2- Species Sesbania drummondii (Rydb.) Cory 3- Species Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir. 4- Species Sesbania herbacea (Mill.) McVaugh - Bigpod sesbania 5- Species Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. - Rattlebox 6- Species Sesbania rostrata 7- Species Sesbania sesban (Jacq.) W.Wight - Egyptian riverhemp 8- Species Sesbania tomentosaHook. & Arn. - Ōhai (Hawaii)
2- The eight species which are used in cooking
2.1- Species Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.Wight - Spiny sesbania + Overview Sesbania bispinosa, also known as Sesbania aculeata (Willd.) Pers., is a small tree in the genus Sesbania in the tribe Sesbanieae in the subfamiy Faboideae of the family Fabaceae. It is an annual shrub which can grow to seven metres in height but usually only reaches one to two metres. It sends out fibrous, pithy stems with long leaves and bears purple-spotted yellow flowers. It produces pods which contain light brown beans. It is native to Asia and North Africa, is most common in tropical Africa where it grows as a common noxious weed, and has been introduced to the Americas. It can grow on saline soil. The flower is the provincial flower of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. The yellow flowers of Sesbania aculeata are eaten as a vegetable in Southeast Asia. They are much smaller than the more popular white flowers of Sesbania grandiflora, but similar in shape. Still, they are appreciated as food in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. + Names The name Sesbania is taken from its Arabic name “Siesaban”. It is known by many common names, including danchi, dunchi, dhaincha, canicha, prickly sesban, Jantar or spiny sesbania. In Vietnam, it is called điên điển gai or điền thanh gai. Source: Sesbania bispinosa - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.2- Species Sesbania drummondii (Rydb.) Cory + Overview Sesbania drummondii, known as Rattlebush, Rattlebox and Poison bean, is a medium-sized perennial shrub in the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, from Texas east to Florida. This species is named in honor of the Scottish-born naturalist Thomas Drummond (1793-1835). Other common names include Sennabean and Drummond Sesbania. + Characteristics These woody-based shrubs grow from 1-3 metres (3.3-9.8 ft) tall. It is usually much branched in the upper portion. Branches are thin and widely spreading. The medium greenleaves are alternate, deciduous, and pinnately compound. There are typically 12-24 leaflets, and occasionally as many as 60 are found. Each leaflet is oblong shaped and 2-3 centimetres (0.79-1.18 in) long. The orange-yellow, pea-like flowers occur in a droopingraceme on a long stem. They are often found with red lining. The seed pods are four-sided, four-winged, and about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long. The peas rattle inside, giving this plant its common name of Rattlebush. Inside the pods, the seeds are separated by transverse partitions. These plants flower from May to October, usually retaining many of the seed pods, which remain attached until the plant dies back to ground level for the winter. This plant prefers moist soils of ditches and frequently-inundated meadows, as well as depressions and the open edges of lakes, ponds and streams. The seeds are poisonous, containing the toxin sesbanimide. Animals raised with the plant learn to avoid it because of the foul taste of the green and flowering plants. However, naïve cattle, goats or sheep placed on pastures containing dried plants in late fall and winter are frequently poisoned. Sick animals often die within 24 hours. Source: Sesbania drummondii - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.3- Species Sesbania grandiflora(L.) Poir. + Overview Sesbania grandiflora (syn. Aeschynomene grandiflora, Agati grandiflora) also known as agati or hummingbird tree, is a small tree in the genus Sesbania in the tribe Sesbanieae in the subfamiy Faboideae of the family Fabaceae. It is a fast-growing tree, leaves are regular and rounded and the flowers white and red in color according to its species. The fruits look like flat, long and thin green beans. The tree thrives under full exposure to sunshine and is extremely frost sensitive. Indigenous from Malaysia to North Australia; cultivated in many parts of India. It has a large number of traditional uses. It grows where there is good soil and hot, humid temperature. Will die in snowy or cold weather, fully tropical plant. + Characteristics It is a small soft wooded tree up to 3-8 m, leaves 15-30 cm long; leaflets 10-20 pairs or more and an odd one. Oblong, 1.5-3.5 cm long variety red, 7.5-10 cm long in lax, 2-4 flower racemes, calyx campanulate, shallowly 2-lipped. Pods slender, falcate or straight, 30-45 cm long, suture thick, Seeds ca. 30, to 8 mm. The flowers of S. grandiflora are eaten as a vegetable in Southeast Asia, like Laos,Thailand, Java in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Ilocos Region of the Philippines. The young pods are also eaten, along with the leaves. Source: Sesbania grandiflora - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
2.4- Species Sesbania herbacea (Mill.) McVaugh - Bigpod sesbania + Overview Sesbania herbacea(syn.Sesbania exaltata) is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names coffeeweed, Colorado River hemp, and bigpod sesbania. It is native to the United States, particularly the southeastern states, where it grows in moist habitat. It can be found elsewhere as an introduced species. Synonyms Darwinia exaltata Sesbania exaltata Sesbania macrocarpa + Characteristics It is a woody herb growing to 3 meters or more in height. The leaves are made up of many pairs of oblong leaflets. The inflorescence is a small raceme of pealike flowers with yellow or purple-spotted petals. Source: Sesbania herbacea - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.5- Species Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. – Rattlebox + Overview Sesbania punicea(Spanish gold, rattlebox) is an ornamental shrub that produces reddish-orange flowers, has deciduous leaves, and grows to 15 feet high. This plant has a high demand for water, and thrives in swamps or high-moisture areas. It also requires a mildly acidic soil to grow, ranging between 6.1 and 6.5 pH. This species is native to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It has spread to parts of Africa, other parts of South America, and many coastal southern United States. Due to its high demand for water, this species is often found at marshy shorelines. It also forms dense thickets and thrives in disturbed areas. + Characteristics The flowers are shaped like pea flowers, 2-3 cm long, and are commonly a red-orange or red-purple color. These flowers are often found in a raceme fashion. This species has five fused sepals and five free petals. The flower always contains 10 stamens, sometimes with various combinations of fused filaments. The ovary is superior and the style is often curved. The flowers often appear outlandish and "showy" because they are most commonly pollinated by insects, so use these tactics to appeal to pollinators. The fruits are large pea pods compartmentalized into four, and appear as if they have shrunk slightly due to drying. These fruits are dehiscent and dry out as they become mature. Each fruit can contain between five and 10 seeds, which are only dispersed when the pod dries out and opens up. The number of pods found on a single plant depends on age and growing conditions of the plant. On average, a single plant can produce 100-300 pods. Source: Sesbania punicea - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.6- Species Sesbania rostrata + Overview Sesbania rostratais a small semi-aquatic leguminous tree, in the genus Sesbania, in the tribe Sesbanieae, in the subfamiy Faboideae of the family Fabaceae. It forms a symbiotic relationship with Gram-negative rhizobia which leads to the formation of nitrogen fixing nodules on both stem and roots. It is mainly used as green manure to improve soil fertility due to its fast growth, high biomass production and ability to convert large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants. Other applications include production of high quality forage for livestock and it is a source of fuel-wood. Sesbania rostrata is primarily used as a green manure to improve soil fertility. It can accumulate 100 kg/ha of nitrogen in 50 days. It is used for livestock feed, it is eaten by sheep, goats, and sometimes camels, but unpalatable to cattle. In some countries leaves are eaten by people, and it is also a source of fuelwood, dry stems serve as a fuel in Madagascar. + Characteristics Sesbania rostrata is a woody, erect, robust, annual or short-lived perennial of about 1 to 3 m tall. The stem is covered with soft hairs and is 15 mm thick. Leaves are 7 to 25 cm long and paripinnate with 12 to 22 pairs of leaflets. Racemes contain 3 to 15 flowers on a rachis, and flowers are yellow. Pods are curved 15 to 22 cm long, and seeds are small, sub-cylindrical, and light to dark brown in colour. Source: Sesbania rostrata - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
2.7- Species Sesbania sesban (Jacq.) W.Wight – Sesban, Egyptian riverhemp + Overview Sesbania sesban, also caled: Sesban, Common sesban, Egyptian rattle pod, Egyptian riverhemp, is a species of plant in the in the genus Sesbania, in the tribe Sesbanieae, in the subfamiy Faboideae of the legume family Fabaceae. Sesban is widely distributed and cultivated throughout semi-arid and sub-humid tropical regions. It grows on stream banks and swamp edges, from sea level up to an altitude of 2300 m. Leaves, flowers and seeds are eaten by humans (the seeds as famine food). + Characteristics Sesban is an erect, branched, stout, shrubby plant, 2 to 3 meters in height. Leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long, with 9 to 20 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets are oblong, 2 to 3 centimeters long. Flowers are few, yellow, about 1.5 centimeters long, borne on axillary racemes about 10 centimeters in length. Pods are subcylindrical, straight or slightly curved up to 30 cm long and 5 mm wide containing 10-50 seeds. Five varieties of Sesbania sesban are recognised botanically but their differences do not correlate strongly with their agricultural value.
2.8- Species Sesbania tomentosaHook. & Arn. - Ōhai (Hawaii) + Overview Sesbania tomentosa, commonly known as Oahu riverhemp and Ōhai, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the peafamily, Fabaceae, that is endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands as well as Nihoa and Necker Island. It inhabits low shrublands and, rarely, dry forests, at elevations from sea level to 2,500 ft (760 m). Associated native plant species include aki aki (Sporobolus virginicus), ilima (Sida fallax), naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada), and pili (Heteropogon contortus). Off-road vehicles, wildfires, grazing, and alien species competition have destroyed their habitat on the main islands, but they are still quite common on Nihoa and Necker. At least 2000 specimens grow on Nihoa, while there are far less on Necker. Ōhai is highly polymorphic, exhibiting broad variations in color and shape. Plants that grow on Nihoa have reddish-orange flowers and young leaflets that are relatively hairless. Necker plants have salmon to orange colored-flowers, and leaflets that are very hairy. A form that grows as a standing tree exists on Molokai. Ōhai grows as a prostrate shrub with semi-glaucous leaves devoid of tomentum on the southernmost tip of the island of Hawaii, Ka Lae. Source: Sesbania tomentosa - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia