Indigofera trifoliata

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Indigofera trifoliata

Family: Fabaceae Genus: Indigofera Species: trifoliata

Synonyms: Anil trifoliata

Western Herbalism Properties

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astringent

Traditional Uses

In Indian traditional medicine the mucilaginous seeds of Indigofera trifoliata are used as a nutritive tonic and restorative and are considered alterative, astringent and aphrodisiac, being employed in the treatment of rheumatism and leucorrhoea (Useful Tropical Plants, citing 19th-century Indian materia medica and Indian medicinal-plant glossaries).

Botanical Description

Indigofera trifoliata, the three-leaved indigo, is a small, slender annual or short-lived perennial herb in the Fabaceae widely distributed across tropical Africa, India and southern Asia. It has prostrate to ascending wiry stems bearing small, characteristically three-foliolate (trifoliate) leaves, distinguishing it from the many pinnate-leaved members of the genus. Tiny reddish to pink pea-flowers are borne in short axillary clusters and give rise to slender, straight, several-seeded pods. The mucilaginous seeds are notable. It grows in open grassland, fallow fields, sandy soils and disturbed ground, often as a weed of cultivation. In India it is widely distributed across many states and has a documented place in indigenous plant-medicine compendia.

Native Region: Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, Northern Territory, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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