Flemingia grahamiana

An erect herb or subshrub, Flemingia grahamiana can grow up to 1.8 m tall[1] but commonly shorter,[2] it is much branched, deeply rooted and sometimes tuberous.[1][2] Leaves appear digitately trifoliate with stipules and petioles present; leaflets are elliptic to lanceolate in outline, up to 13 cm long and 7 cm wide.[2] Inflorescence is an axillary raceme, corolla is yellowish white to pink in color, calyx is tubular and up to 1.5 cm long.[1] Fruit is an inflated oblong pod, 2 seeded and covered with a red or orange viscous exude.[1]

Occurs in India, parts of South Asia, in particular, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Yemen and also occurs in East Africa southwards to South Africa. Found on hill slopes,[2] termite mounds and in open and wooded savannah in Africa.[1]

Chalcone and flemingin A have been isolated from the leaves of the species, also islated from the roots were isoflavones and prenylated flavanones.[1]

Flemingia grahamiana is used in various countries for ethnomedical purposes, in parts of India leaves are used as a purgative, while in parts of Malawi and Zimbabwe root extracts are used as a decoction to treat diarrhea and dysentery .[1] Exudates from the pod is used in the dyeing of silk and sometimes cotton.[1]