Description
The plant is grown as a ground cover and a green manure crop, especially in the inter-rows of rubber trees and coconut palms. Flowers are eaten as a vegetable in Cambodia, where the seeds are roasted and grounded for use as a sort of coffee beverage. The roots are sometimes chewed with betel nuts in Vietnam. In traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat urinary problems and fever, a poultice of the roots is applied to swelling of joints and an extract of the leaves is taken to expel intestinal worms.
Germination Guide
🌍 Tropical Africa, Andaman Islands, India, Nepal, Myanmar, parts of Asia
Easy
Crotalaria pallida is a legume from tropical Africa and Asia that exhibits physical seed dormancy due to an impermeable seed coat. Germination is quick after proper treatment and initial growth is slow, but the plant establishes well once developed. This nitrogen-fixing species is widely cultivated as a green manure crop and ground cover in tropical regions.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
6 – 25 days
Temperature
Min 20°C
Ideal 25°C
Max 30°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Seed Pre-treatment
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💧
Soaking — 12 hours
Pre-soaking seed for 12 hours in warm water can help reduce germination time. Most seeds will swell when soaked.
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🔨
Hot water scarification
Soak in hot tap water and let stand in water for 24 hours. Repeat process on seeds that did not imbibe. Hot water treatment improves germination rate significantly.
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📋
Additional notes
Hot water scarification is the recommended pre-treatment. Seeds have a hard, impermeable seed coat causing physical dormancy.
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
Well-drained seed sowing mix, sandy loam to clay loam soils
Recommended container
Seed trays or individual pots for nursery propagation
Growing Tips
Use fresh seeds when possible as they have higher germination rates than stored seed. Soak seeds in hot (not boiling) tap water for 24 hours; if seeds fail to swell, repeat the process or gently scarify with sandpaper. Sow immediately after seeds swell. Plant at 15cm or greater height. Water moderately and maintain humidity. Seedlings may be transplanted to individual pots once large enough to handle. This plant tolerates poor soils and harsh sites.
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