Sunn Hemp
Encyclopedia
Crotalaria juncea, known as Sunn or sunn hemp, is a tropical Asian plant of the legume family (Fabaceae
).
Grown as a source of green manure
, fodder
and the lignified fiber
obtained from its stem, it bears yellow flowers and elongate, alternate leaves.
Sunn Hemp is also being looked at as a possible bio-fuel.
Many ascending branches, pubescent.
Leaf simple, c. 2.5-10.5 cm long, c. 6-20 mm broad, linear or oblong, obtuse or subacute, apiculate, pubescent on both sides, hairs appressed, silky.
Petiole c. 1.2-2.5 mm long; stipules almost absent.
Inflorescence an erect terminal and lateral raceme, up to 30 cm long, 12-20-flowered. Pedicel c. 3-7 mm long. Bract minute; bracteoles 2, below the calyx. Calyx c. 1.8-2.0 cm long, pubescent, teeth linear-lanceolate. Corolla bright yellow. Vexillum ovate-oblong, slightly exserted.
Fruit c. 2.5-3.2 cm long, sessile, pubescent, 10-15-seeded. Fl.Per. May-September.
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
).
Grown as a source of green manure
Green manure
In agriculture, a green manure is a type of cover crop grown primarily to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Typically, a green manure crop is grown for a specific period of time , and then plowed under and incorporated into the soil while green or shortly after flowering...
, fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
and the lignified fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
obtained from its stem, it bears yellow flowers and elongate, alternate leaves.
Sunn Hemp is also being looked at as a possible bio-fuel.
Description
Annual, c. 60-250 cm tall.Many ascending branches, pubescent.
Leaf simple, c. 2.5-10.5 cm long, c. 6-20 mm broad, linear or oblong, obtuse or subacute, apiculate, pubescent on both sides, hairs appressed, silky.
Petiole c. 1.2-2.5 mm long; stipules almost absent.
Inflorescence an erect terminal and lateral raceme, up to 30 cm long, 12-20-flowered. Pedicel c. 3-7 mm long. Bract minute; bracteoles 2, below the calyx. Calyx c. 1.8-2.0 cm long, pubescent, teeth linear-lanceolate. Corolla bright yellow. Vexillum ovate-oblong, slightly exserted.
Fruit c. 2.5-3.2 cm long, sessile, pubescent, 10-15-seeded. Fl.Per. May-September.
External links
- http://assamagribusiness.nic.in/Sunnhemp.pdf
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/data/pf000475.htm
- http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200012064]]