This species has sometimes been included in Sesbania bispinosa.

Common Name: Sesbania Pea

General Information

Sesbania cannabina is an annual plant growing 3 - 3.5 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. It is widely cultivated as a fibre plant, especially in India, and is often grown as a green manure, windbreak and cover crop[, ]. The plant could have a potential use as a source of fuelwood, and gum or resin[].
Sesbania cannabina is known to occur in protected areas and its seeds have been banked as an ex situ conservation measure. There are no known major threats to the species and it is regarded as a weed in many places. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2012)[].
This species is widely cultivated as a fibre plant and has often escaped from cultivation. It has become naturalized in parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Indian Ocean Islands, and Pacific islands, and is considered to be an invasive pest in many areas[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, to New Guinea and Australia

Habitat

A widespread plant of watercourses and low-lying areas, commonly growing in areas subject to inundation. It can, at times, be a weed of irrigated rice fields and of low-lying wet cultivation paddocks[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sesbania cannabina is mainly found in tropical regions but moves into the subtropiclal and warm temperate regions of southeastern Australia.
Requires a sunny position. Growing best in heavy soils, plants are able to withstand waterlogged conditions[]. Tolerant of saline soils and alkaline conditions[].
This species is widely cultivated for fibres and often naturalized in Africa, Asia, Australia, Indian Ocean Islands, and Pacific islands. It has been used as fodder and it could have a potential use as fuelwood, and gum or resin[].
The plant can become a weed[].
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a green manure for crops such as cotton, rice and sugar cane[]. It is used as a cover crop and windbreak in plantations of cocoa, mango etc[].

Other Uses

A jute-like fibre is obtained from the inner bark[]. A good quality fibre, it is sometimes used as a substitute for jute (Corchorus species) and hemp (Cannabis sativa)[].

A galactomannan gum is obtained from the seed[, ].

The stems are a source of pulp for making paper[].
The plant is a potential source of fuelwood[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Cuttings.