Eriosema
Eriosema is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. Accepted species number over 150. The genus is widespread in tropics.
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.
Selected species
Eriosema campestre Benth. — Argentina, Paraguay, BrazilEriosema chinense Vogel — South-East Asia, East Himalaya, India, New Guinea, Australia Eriosema defoliatum Benth. — BrazilEriosema glabrum Mart. ex Benth. — Argentina, BrazilEriosema glaziovii Harms — BrazilEriosema harmsianum Dinter — NamibiaEriosema kraussianum Meisn. — South AfricaEriosema longifolium Benth. — Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay Eriosema salignum E.Mey. — South AfricaEriosema stenophyllum Harms — Brazil
Uses
Root tubers of Eriosema species have been traditional food for Aborigines of the Northern Territory.