Shrubby pencilflower
StarStylosanthes fruticosa
Synonyms: Stylosanthes mucronata, Stylosanthes aprica, Stylosanthes flavicans, Arachis fruticosa, Stylosanthes bojeri, Stylosanthes suborbiculata, Stylosanthes setosa
Safety at a glance
No rule in our tables for this herb: pregnancy, breastfeeding, incompatible pairs (十八反 / 十九畏), herb–drug, dose ceiling. This is not a safety clearance.
Not graded — No toxicity grade is recorded. Most herbs in the catalogue carry none.
Traditionally used for
- Teeth & mouth
- Pain & joints
- Liver & jaundice
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Indian and Sri Lankan folk and Ayurvedic practice Stylosanthes fruticosa (whole plant and leaf, often used as a powder) is employed for toothache and to strengthen the gums, and as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective remedy, among other uses (Indian ethnomedicinal and Ayurvedic plant catalogues; analgesic activity reported by Vasudevan et al., 2006).
Gallery
Botanical Description
Stylosanthes fruticosa, the shrubby pencilflower, is a perennial legume of the Fabaceae (subfamily Papilionoideae) widespread in dry grassland and scrub across Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. It is a wiry, much-branched, somewhat woody-based herb or low subshrub, often forming a tough rootstock and prostrate to ascending stems. The leaves are trifoliolate with narrow, lanceolate to elliptic leaflets and conspicuous stipules sheathing the stem. The small, pea-like flowers are yellow to orange-yellow and borne in short, dense terminal or axillary spikes among bristly bracts. The fruit is a tiny, hooked, one- to two-jointed pod (loment) adapted for animal dispersal. A valued pasture and soil-improving legume, it tolerates poor, dry soils and heavy grazing.
Dosage Calculator
⚖ Dosage Calculator
A weight-based mathematical estimate for Shrubby pencilflower. Not a prescription.
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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