Egyptian riverhemp

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Egyptian Sesban
• sesban
• Egyptian rattle pod
• Egyptian riverhemp
• River Bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Emerus sesban
• Coronilla sesban

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is organized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sesbania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and climate zones. In Middle Europe, its presence can be identified in countries such as Germany. Moving toward the African continent, it is found in Northern Africa within Egypt. The species also inhabits the Macaronesian region, specifically in Cape Verde. Finally, its range extends through West Tropical Africa, including Benin and Burkina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sesbania sesban is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species is frequently found within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), demonstrating a significant capacity to thrive in environments modified by human activity, such as disturbed lands, agricultural margins, and cultivated landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Sesbania sesban are characterized by a notable degree of karyotypic variation, which contributes to its complex evolutionary and reproductive profile. A defining cytogenetic feature of this species is its fluctuating chromosome number, with documented diploid sets including 12, 14, and 16 chromosomes. This variation in chromosome number suggests a high potential for polyploidy and chromosomal rearrangements, which play a significant role in the plant's genetic diversity and its ability to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. Such numerical instability in the genome often facilitates evolutionary divergence and provides a genetic basis for the morphological and physiological plasticity observed across different accessions of the species.

Chromosome number :

12, 14, 16

Life history

The life history of Sesbania sesban is characterized by a flexible and adaptive growth strategy, primarily functioning as a perennial species, though its lifecycle can exhibit variable patterns including annual or biennial stages depending on environmental conditions. Morphologically, it is classified as a phanerophyte, a life form defined by its ability to maintain its conductive and photosynthetic tissues above the ground level, typically through woody stems. This phanerophyte status is further categorized under the specific designation of phanerophyte, ensuring its survival through seasonal transitions and varying climatic stresses.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sesbania sesban is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as a shrub. It is a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not function as a climber, vine, or liana, and it remains an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 7 m, with an average plant height of approximately 5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sesbania sesban is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific foliar morphology, with leaf dimensions typically ranging from a minimum length of 1.5 cm to a maximum length of 2 cm, while the leaf width varies between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 1 cm. Furthermore, the plant functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to enhance soil fertility and support its own nutritional requirements through biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sesbania sesban is driven by biotic pollination processes, specifically involving insects such as bees. Once pollination is successful, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod, which typically measures between 10 cm and 23 cm in length, with a width ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm. These pods are characterized as dehiscence-based, meaning they are dehiscence-type fruits that split open to release their contents. The dispersal syndrome of the plant is autochorous, relying on the internal mechanisms of the fruit to scatter seeds. The seeds produced are relatively small, with a maximum seed length of 4 mm and a width ranging from 2 mm to 3 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds exhibit significant variability, with a minimum mass of approximately 0.00705 g, a maximum mass of 0.04701 g, and a mean seed mass of roughly 0.01147 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit length max:

23 cm

Fruit length min:

10 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.04701 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01147429175 g

Seed mass min:

0.00705 g

Seed width max:

3 mm

Seed width min:

2 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sesbania sesban has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Root

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Sesbania sesban has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ABSCISIC ACID, CHLOROPHYLL, ascorbic acid, glutathione, proline.

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

ascorbic acid

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

glutathione

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

proline

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Conditions

Sesbania sesban has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, breast cancer, edema, salinity stress, salt stress.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Planta medica

Breast cancer

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Edema

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Salinity stress

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Salt stress

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Preparations

Sesbania sesban has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hexane-extracted oils of ripe seeds, leaves.

Hexane-extracted oils of ripe seeds

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaves

1. Animal reproduction science