Common Name: Hairy Glycine

General Information

Glycine tomentella is an annual to perennial climbing plant with twining stems that scramble over the ground, climbing into surrounding vegetation for support[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. A herbal tea made from the root is produced commercially[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Philippines; Australasia - New Guinea, eastern and northern Australia; Pacific - New Caledonia

Habitat

Found in a variety of habitats, from woodland to littoral rainforest, riverine floodplains or inland spinifex communities[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Glycine tomentella is native to mainly subtropical and tropical regions ofChina, the Philippines and south to Australia., entering the warm temperate zone in New South Wales. It does experience frost in at least part of its range.
Requires a suny position. Often found in the wild on heavy, black basaltic clay soils[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].
The plant produces seeds profusely, but over a very long period, making harvesting rather difficult[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant (probably the root) is antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hypolipidaemic and immunomodulatory. It is used in the treatment of rheumatic illness[].

Other Uses

This species is a tertiary genetic relative of the soybean (Glycine max) and as such has potential in breeding programmes.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a greenhouse. The seed should germinate within two weeks at a temperature between 12 - 16°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.