Vegetable Hummingbird (English)

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• West Indian-pea
• scarlet wistaria-tree
• vegetable-hummingbird
• vegetable hummingbird

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Resupinaria grandiflora
• Coronilla grandiflora
• Dolichos arborescens
• Agati grandiflora var. albiflora
• Robinia grandiflora
• Agati grandiflora
• Sesbania mannii
• Aeschynomene grandiflora
• Emerus grandiflorus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Sesbania and the species Sesbania grandiflora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range that spans both Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesia region, its presence is documented in Cape Verde. Moving to West Tropical Africa, the species is widely distributed across several key nations. It can be found growing in the territories of Benin, Ghana, and Guinea. Finally, its distribution extends further south into Nigeria, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sesbania grandiflora is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the species to occupy diverse ecological niches, from lowland tropical plains to mid-elevation subtropical zones. Typically found in moist, well-drained soils, the plant often colonizes riparian zones, riverbanks, and disturbed areas where it benefits from high humidity and significant seasonal rainfall. It demonstrates a high degree of adaptability to varying microclimates within its vertical distribution, often acting as a pioneer species in disturbed landscapes or agroforestry systems where it contributes to soil nitrogen fixation.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Sesbania grandiflora is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous species, it undergoes periodic shedding of its foliage, a biological strategy often linked to seasonal adaptations or environmental stressors. This cycle of growth and dormancy defines its developmental pattern, where the plant establishes a long-term presence in its habitat while periodically transitioning through leafless phases.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sesbania grandiflora is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a tree or a large shrub. This species is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, it is a substantial plant with a mean height of approximately 9.05 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

9.05 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sesbania grandiflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant lacks succulence, maintaining standard tissue hydration levels rather than storing significant water in specialized fleshy structures. Its foliar morphology is defined by leaflets that typically range in length from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 25 cm, with widths varying between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 6 cm. Furthermore, the species exhibits a vital symbiotic physiological trait as a nitrogen fixer, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake and soil fertility.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sesbania grandiflora is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving birds as key pollinators. The flowering process features inflorescences that typically range in length from 0.12 m to 0.15 m, displaying distinct pink flowers. Following successful pollination, the plant develops elongated fruit pods with a minimum length of 30 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 80 cm, while the fruit width varies between 5 cm and 7 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing a seed count ranging from 11 to 100 seeds. The individual seeds are relatively small, with a maximum length of 6 mm and a maximum width of 4 mm, possessing a mean seed mass of approximately 0.073925 g (with recorded mass values ranging between 0.06175 g and 0.06175 g). Finally, the dispersal of the species follows an anthropochorous syndrome, indicating that its distribution is significantly influenced by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Fruit length max:

80 cm

Fruit length min:

30 cm

Fruit width max:

7 cm

Fruit width min:

5 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.12 m

Pollination syndrome :

bird

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.06175 g

Seed mass mean:

0.073925 g

Seed width max:

4 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sesbania grandiflora has 5 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, seed, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. BioMed research international
3. Toxicology letters
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Seed

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Natural product research

Root

1. Natural product research

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Sesbania grandiflora has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, SF2, Sesbagrandiflorain A, Sesbagrandiflorain B.

Flavonoids

1. Ayu

SF2

1. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine

Sesbagrandiflorain A

1. Natural product research

Sesbagrandiflorain B

1. Natural product research

Activities

Sesbania grandiflora has 6 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Chemopreventive, Cytotoxic.

Anticancer

1. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Ayu

Chemopreventive

1. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine

Cytotoxic

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Sesbania grandiflora has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, anemia, anti-oxidant, bronchitis, cognitive decline.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations