Scientific Name: Desmodium cinereum

Common Names: Rensoni. Tickclover

Characteristics:
 A short lived, fast-growing perennial growing to 2m. Used as nitrogen-rich mulch in alley-
cropping systems and in contour hedgerows. It is a good carbon farming plant.
Flowers purple or rose, in groups of 3 or more on pedicels 3- 5 mm long. Pod (loment), 1.5
- 3 cm long, comprising 4 - 8 segments (articles), finely pubescent, unequally constricted
between segments; stipe 1 - 2 mm long. Seeds reniform (kidney-shaped), flattened,
yellow-brown to brown, 2.5 - 4 mm long and 3 mm broad.
Climatic Requirements:
D. cinereum originates from humid environments between about 16 and 24° N at altitudes 0-1,000
m asl in Central America. Originates from wet tropics in areas with an
average annual rainfall from about 1400 to 4000 mm /yr, with a limited dry season . It has been
successfully sown in the wet tropics where average annual rainfall exceeds about 1500mm.
Nutrient Requirements:
Leaf meal of D. cinereum gave similar benefits to those from Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal
when fed as a protein supplement. Nutrient analysis results for D. cinereum leaf were similar to
those for Medicago sativa.
Soil requirement: Moderately fertile, acidic to neutral soils. Becomes chlorotic in alkaline soil,
probably due to iron deficiency.
Scientific Name: Leptochloa chinensis
Common Names: Chinese sprangletop; malay-palay
Characteristics:
 A tufted and smooth annual or perennial; up to 120 cm tall.
Stem: slender, hollow, erect or ascending from a branching base, rooting at lower nodes,
smooth and without hair, typically 10−20 nodes, and can reach as high as 50−100 cm.
Leaf: smooth, linear, 10−30 cm long; ligule an inconspicuous membrane 1−2 mm long and
deeply divided into hairlike segments. Inflorescence: narrowly ovate, loose panicle, main
axis 10−40 cm long, and with many spike-like slender branches; racemes slender, each
with two rows of spikelets, spikelets 2−3.2 mm long, purplish or green and 4−6 flowered.
Climatic Requirements: Germination was strongly stimulated by light and warm fluctuating
temperatures, suggesting high emergence of Chinese sprangletop on bare ground such as a crop
seedbed.
Soil requirement: L. chinensis occurs in croplands, wetlands, swamps, or streams in open lowland
regions of the tropics. It can also grow in heavy or light soils, along streams and watercourses, in
marshy grounds, and in upland and lowland rice fields. In Java (Indonesia), it grows from sea level
to 900 m in altitude
Scientific Name: Leucaena leucocephala
Common Names: ipil ipil, bayani (giant ipil ipil), santa-elena,
Characteristics:
 Leucaena leucocephala is a shrub or small tree usually growing 2-10 m tall, but
occasionally reaching 15 m or more in height. The younger stems are green and usually
densely covered in fine greyish coloured hairs (finely pubescent). Older stems have a
relatively smooth, greyish or greyish-brown, bark with numerous small raised spots
(lenticels). Bark is mid grey-brown with shallow rusty orange-brown vertical fissures
with the flowers, the heads 12-21 mm in diameter with 100-180 flowers per head, the
flowers white.
Climatic Requirements:
Requires temperatures of 25-30ºC for optimum growth. Growth ceases at 15-16ºC. Light frosts
will kill leaf. Very heavy frosts will kill stems back to ground level but mature plants will coppice
from the base with resumption of growing temperatures. Prefers sub humid and humid climates
Nutrient Requirements:
L. leucocephala foliage is noted for its very high nutritive value for ruminant production. Leaves
also contain 2-6% condensed tannins (CT), phenolic compounds which bind and protect dietary
protein from degradation in the rumen. Calcium, phosphorus and potassium appear to be adequate.
Leucaena seeds are rich in isoleucine) and have a greater content of lysine, leucine, proline and
serine than soya bean proteins.
Soil requirement: In its native range, L. leucocephala grows on shallow limestone soils, coastal
sands and seasonally dry, self-mulching vertisol soils of pH 7.0-8.5.
Scientific Name: Panicum maximum
Common Names: Guinea grass, buffalo grass, bush buffalo grass, purple-top buffalo grass,
rainbow grass, Sabi panicum, Tanganyika grass, ubabe grass,
Characteristics:
 Extremely variable species, loosely to densely tufted, shortly rhizomatous, erect or
geniculately ascending, often branched, nodes usually bearded, sometimes rooting at the
lower nodes. Guinea grass is a tufted perennial with 30 mm leaf blades. The inflorescence
is an open panicle. The grass Is highly palatable and favoured by all grazing herbivores.
Spikelets are green to purple (purple particularly when the grass grows in direct sun).
Guinea Grass remains green until late in winter. It originates in Africa, but today occurs in
virtually all tropical parts of the world.
Climatic Requirements:
Temperature response varies with genotype. S varieties are generally less affected by cooler
temperatures than are many of the varieties, producing good early season growth.
Drought tolerance varies among cultivars, although generally they do not tolerate dry periods
longer than 4 or 5 months. Tolerant of short term flooding by moving water.
Nutrient Requirements:
IVDMD from 64% (2 week regrowth) to 50% (8 week regrowth). Crude protein from 6-25%
depending on age and N supply. Seasonally, CP values in 12 week old regrowth commonly range
from 5-10%, P levels from 0.15-0.18%, Ca from 0.6-0.8% and Na from 0.07-0.12%.
Soil requirement: M. maximus grows in most soil types providing they are well-drained, moist
and fertile, although some varieties are tolerant of lower fertility and poorer drainage. Tolerance
of low soil pHand high Al+++ saturation is also variable.
Scientific Name: Morus nigra L.
Common Names: mulberry, common mulberry, Russian mulberry, silkworm mulberry, black
mulberry, red mulberry
Characteristics:
 The common mulberry is a handsome deciduous tree, 10‒25 m tall, of rugged, picturesque
appearance, forming a dense, spreading head of branches usually wider than the height of
the tree, springing from a short, rough trunk. Mulberries are deciduous and have toothed,
sometimes lobed leaves that are alternately arranged along the stems. Individuals can be
monoecious (bearing both male and female flowers) or dioecious (bearing only male or
female flowers). The minute flowers are borne in tight catkin clusters.
Climatic Requirements:
Mulberries grow well in temperate areas but lose their leaves in the winter. The white mulberry is
the most cold-hardy of the three species, although this varies from one clone to another. Some are
damaged at 25° F, while others are unfazed at -25° F.
Nutrient Requirements:
Crude protein concentration in leaves can be considered similar to most legume forages, varying
from 15 to 28% depending on the variety, age of the leaves and growing conditions; fibre fractions
are lower.
Soil requirement: Mulberries grow best in a well-drained neutral soil, preferably a deep loam.
Shallow soils such as those frequently found on chalk or gravel are not recommended. The white
mulberry, and to a lesser extent the red mulberry, are quite tolerant of poor soil.
Scientific Name: Brachiara decumbens
Common Names: Kenya sheep grass, signal grass, Surinam grass
Characteristics:
 culms decumbent, stoloniferous forming a denser cover; racemes 2–7, 1–5 cm long;
rachis 1–8 cm long, flat, broadly winged, 1–1.7 mm wide; spikelets subacute or acute, 4–
5 mm long, packed in 2 rows along rachis; lower glume ovate, 9 -veined,
apex obtuse or acute; upper glume oblong, membranous, 7-veined, surface pubescent,
apex obtuse or acute.
Climatic Requirements:
Grows best in temperatures above 19ºC, so is most productive in the lowland tropics, or during the
warmest part of the year in the subtropics or at higher altitudes. Leaves are burnt off by light frost
but the plants recover. It stays green well into the dry season (better than U. brizantha ). It can
tolerate some short-term flooding but not even temporary waterlogging.
Nutrient Requirements: Moderately high (similar to other tropical grasses) but greatly dependant
on the fertility status of the soil and age of regrowth. Intermediate to high digestibility (50–80%),
chemical composition and intake. CP ranges from 9–20% depending on soil fertility and
management, but can decline rapidly with age of leaf, from 10% at 30 days to 5% at 90 days.
Soil requirement: B. decumbens is resilient and is grown over a wide range of soil types including
infertile acid soils with low pH.
Scientific Name: Gliricidia sepium
Common Names: balok-balok, cacaute, kakauati, kakawate, madre de cacao, madriado,
madrecacao (Philippines)
Characteristics:
 Small to medium-sized tree up to 10‒12 m high. Branching frequently from the base with
basal diameters reaching 50‒70 cm. Bark is smooth, varying in colour from whitish grey
to deep red-brown. Kakawati is a smooth, deciduous tree, 3 to 10 meters high. Leaves are
15 to 25 centimeters long with 13 leaflets which are opposite, oblong-ovate, 4 to 6
centimeters long, with a pointed tip and rounded base. Racemes are numerous on leafless
branches, containing many flowers. Flowers are pink, 2 centimeters long, with a truncate
calyx. The standard is reflexed and pale-yellow in the median part. The pods are narrowly
oblong to oblanceolate, 10 to 14 centimeters long, about 2 centimeters wide, containing 6
to 8 seeds.
Climatic requirements: Mean annual temperatures across the native range vary considerably,
from 21 to 29 ºC. Leaves abscise when night temperatures fall below 15 ºC. Grows to an altitude
of 1,200 m asl in its native range, possibly to as high as 1,600 m asl.
Nutrient requirements: High nutritive value. Crude protein content 18‒30% and in
vitro digestibility 60‒65%. With the exception of palatability, variability in nutritive quality
among provenances has not been assessed.
Soil requirement: Adapted to a wide range of well-drained soils. In its native range, often found
on highly eroded soils of volcanic origin with pH 4.5‒6.2, but is also found on sands, heavy clays
and slightly alkaline, calcareous limestone soils. Poor survival on soils with high Al saturation. In
Australia, the tree is thought to be suitable for low-calcium soils. Does not grow well on wet or
waterlogged soils.
Scientific Name: Calopogonium mucunoides
Common Names: calopo; wild ground nut (USA); karaparapak sara naw, santing (Philippines)
Characteristics:
 Calopogonium mucunoides is a vigorous, hairy annual or short-lived perennial trailing
legume. It can reach several meters in length and form a dense, tangled mass of foliage,
30-50 cm deep. The root system is dense and shallow, at most 50 cm deep. The stems are
succulent, covered with long, brown hairs. They are creeping in the lower parts, sometimes
rooting at the nodes that come in contact with the soil. The upper part of the stem is twining.
The leaves are up to 16 cm long and trifoliate.
Climatic requirements:
Grows best at 32 ºC maximum and 24 ºC minimum daily temperatures, with outer limits of 36 ºC
maximum and 18 ºC minimum. Prefers humid-tropical, low elevations. Adapted to the hot, wet
tropics with annual rainfall. Will grow in drier environments. Poor drought tolerance but plants
will regenerate from seed. Adapted to wet soils.
Nutrient requirements:
In vitro digestibility of leaf DM ranges from 58 to 66% depending on the age of regrowth and level
of hairiness. High densities of epidermal hairs (34 hairs/mm²) are associated with
lower IVDMD. CP content of top growth ranges from 16 to 24%, with lower values for older
growth. Reported in vivo DMD of leaf and stem are 58%.
Soil requirement: Grows on a wide range of soil types, but prefers clay soils with pH 4.5‒5.0. In
tropical America, grows well on acid soils with high Al saturation. Poor tolerance of salinity.
Scientific Name: Cynodon dactylon
Common Names: common bermudagrass
Characteristics:
 A fine to robust stoloniferous, sward-forming perennial herb, with rhizomes that
can penetrate 40-50 cm in clay soil and 70-80 cm in sand. It has a deep root system; in
drought situations with penetrable soil, the root system can grow to over 2 metres (6.6 ft)
deep, though most of the root mass is less than 60 centimetres (24 in) under the surface.
The blades are a grey-green colour and are short, usually 2–15 cm (0.79–5.91 in) long with
rough edges. The erect stems can grow 1–30 cm (0.39–11.81 in) tall. The stems are slightly
flattened, often tinged purple in colour.
Climate requirements:
Usually occurs over an average annual rainfall range of 625-1,750 mm, but down to 550 mm, and
up to 4,300 mm. Very drought tolerant by virtue of rhizome survival through drought-
induced dormancy over periods of up to 7 months. Tolerates at least several weeks of deep
flooding.
Nutrient requirements:
Crude protein varies with age of material and level of nitrogen fertilization, from about 3 to 9% in
old grass, to about 20% in young, well-fertilized grass. IVDMD varies from 40 to 69% with
genotype.
Soil requirement:
Grows on a wide range of soils, but best in relatively fertile, well-drained soils. Adapted over a
broad range of soil pH (4.5-8.5), but grows best when the pH is above 5.5. As a general guideline,
it makes only slow growth under saline conditions. Generally, not tolerant of high aluminum
saturation, although some varieties appear more tolerant than others.
Scientific Name: Arachis pintoi
Common Names: kacang pinto, kacang hias, mani-manian, mani-mani (Philippines)
Characteristics:
 This perennial herbaceous legume is characterized by a stoloniferous, creeping growth
habit, with a strong taproot. Leaves are alternate and composed of four leaflets. This
cultivar grows well at sites with an annual precipitation of 1,300 mm, but performs best
under humid tropical conditions, where precipitation is higher and there are no intermediate
dry periods. Once established, this legume tolerates moderate waterlogging and drought,
and grows well under shade. Although cultivar A. pintoi adapts to acid soils with high
aluminum.
Climatic requirements:
Originates from about 13-17ºS, and although most collections have been made between 300 and
600 m asl, extremes range from near sea level to about 1,100 m asl. This equates to
average annual temperatures of about 21-23°C. A. pintoi grows best between about 22°C (72°F)
and 28°C (82°F).
Nutrient requirements:
13-25% crude protein, 60-70% dry matter digestibility. Relatively low levels of condensed
tannins.
Soil requirement:
Generally, found on red, sandy loam river-bottom soils of low to moderate fertility and high
aluminium saturation, particularly in low areas, which are wet to flooded during the wet season. In
cultivation, A. pintoi has not been restricted by soil texture. Prefers moderate to high fertility but
can survive in infertile soils.
Scientific Name: Rottboellia conchinchinensis
Common Name: Itch grass
Characteristics:
 Itch grass is an invasive species. The plant reproduces by seeds and a single plant can
produce more than 3000 seeds. It is an important weed in several crops including maize,
sugar cane, upland and rain-fed rice, beans, sorghum and perennials such as citrus and oil
palm at early stages of growth. It is estimated that more than 3.5 million ha of cropping
lands are infested with itch grass in Central America and the Caribbean R.
cochinchinensis is an erect annual grass that grows up to a height of 4 m or more.
Climatic requirement:
R. cochinchinensis is reported as a tropical weed mostly from latitude 23°N to 23°S. It also has
the ability to grow, flower and set seed under some temperate climate regimes found in the USA
in the Gulf Coast states, the lower Midwest, the South Atlantic states and the South-West, where
it can reach 75-100% of its growth potential.
Nutrient requirement:
Itch grass is a useful fodder grass when young and suitable for ensiling. When tall, its stiff hairs
cause irritation and unpalatability. It can be mixed with other grasses to feed cattle, which results
in a higher dry matter intake.
Soil requirement:
Germination was highest in loam soil and lowest in sand soils.
Scientific Name: Corchorus capsularis - L.
Common Name: Jute
Characteristics:
 Corchorus capsularis is an erect, annual herb, with acute leaves, yellow five-petaled
flowers and growing to two or more metres in height. It has globular fruits. It probably
originated in China but is now grown in Bangladesh and India, and found spread across
much of tropical Africa. It is also cultivated in the Amazon region of Brazil.
Climatic requirement:
It thrives in tropical lowland areas with humidity of 60% to 90%. Jute is a rain-fed crop with
little need for fertilizer or pesticides. Jute needs a plain alluvial soil and standing water. The
suitable climate for growing jute (warm and wet) is offered by the monsoon climate, during the
monsoon season. Jute requires 5–8 cm of rainfall weekly, and more during the sowing period.
Nutrient requirement:
Vitamins A, C and E present in jute leaf/Saluyot “spongeup” free radicals, scooping them up
before they can commit cellular sabotage. Jute is one of the most affordable natural fibers and
considered second only to cotton in amount produced and variety of uses of vegetable fibers.
Soil requirement:
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and
basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Scientific Name: Indigofera zollingeriana
Common Name: balabalatong, tina-tinaan (Tagalog)
Characteristics:
 Erect shrub or small tree, 2 - 3(- 12) m tall. Branches horizontal and drooping, subsericeous
with minute brown or white, biramous, appressed hairs. Species of Indigofera are
mostly shrubs, though some are small trees or herbaceous perennials or annuals. Most
have pinnate leaves.
Climatic requirement:
I. zollingeriana has been commercialized in the humid tropics of Indonesia, Philippines and India,
but does extend to about 27° N and has been grown at altitudes to 2,200 m above sea level,
suggesting there might be types that are subtropically adapted. While I. zollingeriana grows best
with good moisture and is largely recommended in higher rainfall environments
Nutrient requirement:
Laboratory analyses of I. zollingeriana indicate a high quality forage: crude protein 27 to 31%,
protein digestibility 75 to 87%, NDF 49–57%, ADF 32–38%, dry matter digestibility 72–81%,
and total tannin 0.09–0.65%. Other samples indicate sound mineral quality, calcium (Ca) 1.16%
and phosphorous (P) 0.26%.
Soil requirement:
I. zollingeriana is adapted over a range of soil textures from sandy coralline strands to clays
(ultisol), probably representing a pH range of 4.5 to 8.5. It is tolerant of low fertility.
Scientific Name: Chloris barbata
Common Name: purpletop chloris, Korokorosan
Characteristics:
 C. barbata is a tufted, erect, annual or short-lived perennial grass. It is 0.3-1.0 m or more
tall, largely glabrous, with a short life span, heading and flowering all year round. The erect
and branching stems, which are sometimes bent at the base, are smooth and usually
flattened. They are purple or pink at the base, simple or branched, 3-5-noded, rooting at
the lower nodes. The origin of C. barbata is uncertain. Bor (1960) states that it is distributed
through the "tropics of South-East Asia, introduced elsewhere (but considered to be native
in Tropical America". Other floras simply accept that it is now widely distributed in tropical
and some subtropical regions of all continents, with the possible exception of southern
Africa.
Climatic requirement:
The grasses prefer a sunny situation on dry to moderately moist soil. The substrate should be sandy
or gritty-sandy soil. They tolerate temperatures down to -7 °C.
Nutrient requirement:
The plant possesses antimicrobial properties. The aqueous extract is used in treating various skin
disorders. Traditionally, it is used in the treatment of many types of pain and inflammatory
conditions.
Soil requirement:
Moderately moist soil and sandy or gritty-sandy soil
Scientific Name: Phyllanthus niruri Linn
Common Name: Sampasampalukan
Characteristics:
 Sampasampalukan is an erect, branching, slender, smooth herb growing 50 to 60
centimeters high. Leaves are small and oblong, alternate and often imbricated, oblong to
elliptic-oblong, 5 to 8 millimeters long, rather pale beneath, and on very short stalks.
Flowers are axillary and solitary, pale green or white, about 0.5 millimeter long. Capsules
are smooth, rounded or somewhat flattened, 1.5 to 2 millimeters in diameter.
Climatic requirement:
It grows well as tropical and sub tropical rainfed crop.
Soil requirement:
Well drained Sandy loamy/black soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5 is preferred.
Scientific Name: Vigna radiata
Common Name: Mung bean
Characteristics:
 The mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) is a legume cultivated for its edible seeds and sprouts
across Asia. The mung bean plant is an annual, erect or semi-erect, reaching a height of
0.15-1.25 m. It is slightly hairy with a well-developed root system. Wild types tend to be
prostrate while cultivated types are more erect. The mung bean is a major edible legume
seed in Asia (India, South East-Asia and East Asia) and is also eaten in Southern Europe
and in the Southern USA. The mature seeds provide an invaluable source of digestible
protein for humans in places where meat is lacking or where people are mostly vegetarian .
Climatic requirement:
The mung bean is a fast-growing, warm-season legume. It reaches maturity very quickly under
tropical and subtropical conditions where optimal temperatures are about 28-30°C and always
above 15°C. It can be sown during summer and autumn. It does not require large amounts of water
(600-1000 mm rainfall/year) and is tolerant of drought. It is sensitive to waterlogging. High
moisture at maturity tends to spoil the seeds that may sprout before being harvested.
Soil requirement:
The mung bean grows on a wide range of soils but prefers well-drained loams or sandy loams,
with a pH ranging from 5 to 8. It is somewhat tolerant to saline soils.
Scientific Name: Amaranthus viridis L.
Common Name: Kolitis
Characteristics:
 Kolitis is an erect, smooth, branched unarmed herb, 30 to 60 centimeters high. Leaves are
alternate, ovate, long-petioled, 4 to 10 centimeters long, obtuse tip, usually notched, base
truncate or decurrent. Amaranthus viridis is an annual herb with an upright, light green
numerous branches emerge from the base, and the leaves are ovate, 3–6 cm long, 2–4 cm
wide, with long petioles of about 5 cm. The plant has terminal panicles with few branches,
and small green flowers with 3 stamens.
Climatic requirement:
Subtropics and warm temperate regions.
Nutrient requirement:
Analysis of leafy vegetable per 100gm: moisture 81.8, protein 5.2, fiber 6.1, fat 0.3, vitamin C
178mg; minerals 2.8g (calcium 33.0 mg, phosphorus 52.0 mg, iron 18.7 mg.); amino acids
(arginine, histidine, lysine, methionine, cystine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine,
tryptophan, tyrosine, valine; and seeds with 14-16% protein and 4.7 to 7% fat.
Soil requirement: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-
drained soil.
Scientific Name: Pennisetum purpureum
Common Name: napier fodder; napier grass
Characteristics:
 It is a fast growing, deeply rooted, perennial grass growing up to 4 metres tall that can
spread by underground stems to form thick ground cover. Napier is easy to establish and
persistent; drought tolerant; suitable for cutting and very good for silage making. Napier
grass is a high yielding fodder crop with good palatability, highly nutritious especially
when young, dark green leaves and less than 1 metre tall. It is also used as a soil stabilizer
in soil conservation methods and can be intercropped with various forage legumes. Napier
is not suitable for direct grazing since stumping results in poor regeneration. It is vulnerable
to disease and pest attacks. It takes up a lot of nutrients from the soils and is highly
demanding on nutrient recycling/fertilizer application.
Climate requirement:
It grows best in high-rainfall areas (>1500 mm/year), but its deep root system allows it to survive
in dry times and it is reported to tolerates areas with annual precipitation of 200-4000 mm.
Temperatures for optimum growth should be from 25°C to 40°C, and there is little growth below
about 15°C.
Nutrient requirement:
The fresh grass, having a dry matter content of 21.4 percent, averaged 1.8 percent digestible crude
protein and 14.0 percent total digestible nutrients, or 8.5 and 65.7 percent respectively on a
moisture-free basis.
Soil requirement:
It is well adapted to grow on a wide range of soil types from poorly drained clay soils to excessively
drained sandy soils with pH ranging from 4.5 to 8.2, but grows best in rich well-drained soils.
Scientific Name: Moringa oleifera
Common Name: Moringa, drumstick tree, malunggay [Tagalog]
Characteristics:
 Moringa is a small to medium evergreen or deciduous tree that can grow to a height of 10-
12 m. It has a spreading open crown, typically umbrella-shaped. The roots are deep. The
bole is crooked, generally one-stemmed but sometimes forked from the base. The bark is
corky and grey. The branches are fragile and drooping, with a feathery foliage. Young
twigs and shoots are covered in short dense hairs, purplish or greenish white in colour.
Moringa leaves are alternate, 7-60 cm long, tripinnately compound with each pinnate
bearing 4-6 pairs of leaflets that are dark green, elliptical to obovate, and 1-2 cm in length.
Climate requirement:
Moringa does well where average temperatures are high, ranging from 25 to 30°C. Low
temperatures and frost can kill the plant back to ground level but regrowth occurs quickly once the
temperatures increase. Moringa grows better where annual rainfall is about 1000-2000 mm.
However, it is tolerant of drought and survives where rainfall is as low as 400 mm, though foliage
production under such conditions is reduced.
Soil requirement: Moringa does well on a wide range of soils, with pH ranging from 4.5 to 9,
provided they are well-drained.
Scientific Name: Flemingia macrophylla
Common Name: large leaf flemingia, malabalatong (Philippines)
Characteristics:
 Flemingia macrophylla or Longleaf is a woody shrub that is one of the secondary sources
of a coarse purple or brilliant orange-brown brown Arab dye. It is about 1-4 m tall, deep-
rooting, and tussock-forming. The stems have ridges and are softly hairy. The leaves are
oval or sword-shaped. The flowers are in dense clusters. The fruits are oblong pods. It is
commonly found along watercourses in secondary forest in East Asia. It has a symbiotic
relationship with certain soil bacteria that form root nodules and fix atmospheric
nitrogen.
Climate requirement:
Requires a minimum annual rainfall of about 1,100 mm, and grows up to 3,500 mm. tolerating
up to 6 months dry season. Capable of surviving on poorly drained and occasionally
waterlogged soils. Best growth between 22 and 28 ºC, producing minimal growth above 36 °C
and below 12 °C. Found from sea level to 2,000 m asl.
Nutrient requirement:
Lower leaf nutrient levels (especially K, Ca, and Mg) than Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia
sepium - (11.3‒24.4% CP; 0.15‒0.3% P; 1.0‒1.4% K; 0.13‒0.94% Ca; 0.2‒0.3%
Mg). IVDMDvalues for foliage range from 11 to 60%, most values tending to be in the lower
part of the range; in sheep, an apparent DM digestibility of 54% has been reported.
Soil requirement: Will grow on most soils, with very low to moderate (and even high) fertility,
with a pH range from 4 to 8, and high soluble aluminum (up to 80% saturation)
References:
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/126389
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corchorus_capsularis
https://www.climatecolab.org/contests/2016/materials-matter/c/proposal/1330505
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/12c9/79461dd12efb9315161e4d85ac5f865064ac.pdf
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Korokorosan.html
https://cnas-re.uog.edu/guam-weeds/chloris-barbata/
http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/horti_medicinal%20crops_phyllanthus.html
http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/forages/Media/Html/entities/desmodium_cinereum.htm
https://www.feedipedia.org/node/303
https://apps.lucidcentral.org/tropical_forages/text/entities/desmodium_cinereum.htm
https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/30207
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Desmodium+cinereum
https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/weeds/key/weeds/Media/Html/Leucaena_leucoceph
ala_(Leucaena).htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0377840186900246
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_guinea_grass.html
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kakawati.html
https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/47782