Eriosema is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. Accepted species number over 150.[1] The genus is widespread in tropics.
| Eriosema | |
|---|---|
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| Eriosema campestre, Brazil | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Clade: | Millettioids |
| Tribe: | Phaseoleae |
| Subtribe: | Cajaninae |
| Genus: | Eriosema (DC.) Desv. |
| Type species | |
| Eriosema rufum | |
| Species | |
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
Description
Species of Eriosema are mostly herbs or shrublets. Leaves are pinnately 3-foliolate, rarely reduced to a single leaflet. Inflorescences are 1–2-flowered or pedunculate racemes in the leaf axils, yellow to orange, calyx is campanulate, consists of five similar lobes. Pods are short and flattened with two seeds.[2][3]
Selected species
- Eriosema campestre Benth. — Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil
- Eriosema chinense Vogel — South-East Asia, East Himalaya, India, New Guinea, Australia
- Eriosema defoliatum Benth. — Brazil
- Eriosema glabrum Mart. ex Benth. — Argentina, Brazil
- Eriosema glaziovii Harms — Brazil
- Eriosema harmsianum Dinter — Namibia
- Eriosema kraussianum Meisn. — South Africa
- Eriosema longifolium Benth. — Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay
- Eriosema salignum E.Mey. — South Africa
- Eriosema stenophyllum Harms — Brazil
Eriosema umtamvunense in Umtamvuna Nature Reserve
Eriosema longifolium in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
Eriosema kraussianum in KwaZulu-Natal
Eriosema salignum in fruit in South Africa.
Uses
Root tubers of Eriosema species have been traditional food for Aborigines of the Northern Territory.[4]