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Calopogonium caeruleum

Authority (Benth.) Hemsley Family Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae Synonyms Common names Editor Ecocrop code 595

Notes
DESCRIPTION: A twining legume with stems up to several metres long, becoming woody with age, rooting at nodes when in contact with moist soil. Leaves trifoliolate with a long petiole (to 16 cm), leaflets elliptical, ovate or rhomboid ovate, 6-9 cm x 4-6 cm. The inflorescence is an elongated, raceme, up to 50 cm long with many flowers consisting of a bell-shaped, 5-lobed calyx and blue or violet corolla, about 1 cm long. GROWING PERIOD: Short-lived perennial. Rather slow growing and it may take 20 months to establish a complete ground cover. USE: Green manure crop providing large amounts of dry matter through leaf fall. Cover crop, especially in tropical tree plantations. Excellent ability to smother weeds and provide soil cover. COMMON NAMES: Caeruleum calopo, Thua sealulium, Namie napirang, Klein Kau. FURTHER INF: Scientific synonym: Stenolobium caeruleum, It is native to Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America. Widely planted and naturalised throughout the humid tropics. In the tropics, it can be found at elevations between sea level and 800 m.
Sources
Grassland Index Mannetje L 1992 pp 71-72 [RAIN, TEMP, LIG, TEXT, PH, DRA] Skerman P 1988 pp 223 [USE] Tropical forages 2005