About Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. is a perennial shrub or small tree that grows up to 6 meters tall, and occasionally reaches 8 meters in height. It produces paripinnately compound leaves, with 6 to 27 pairs of linear to oblong leaflets per pinna; both the leaves and rachis are typically pilose (covered with fine soft hairs). Its flowers are yellow, with brown and purple streaks on the corolla.
This species is widely distributed across tropical East Africa, tropical West Africa, Southern Africa, and Asia. It commonly grows in a range of soil types, including loose sandy soil and clay soil, in areas that receive between 500 and 2000 mm of annual rainfall.
As a nitrogen-fixing tree, Sesbania sesban may be useful for alley cropping. It is also used as a fodder crop and as a source of fuel wood.
