By kind permission of the authors Mark Dimmitt and Chuck Hanson and the CSSA journal, a series of article written in the 1990s is reproduced here in hypertext format.
Hallo, I am glad to inform you the price for plumeria stenopetala seeds differ based on the order quantity.
The price is as follows:
QUANTITY PRICE PER SEED-USD 05 to 20 0.30 50 to 100 0.25 200 to 500 0.20 700 to 1000 0.15
A 20% extra seeds will be added free of cost to ensure maximum germination. The seeds will be very briefly dried after cleaning and sealed in airtight plastic bags to prevent dehydration and taking extra care to see that the seeds will stay dry. Even a slow airmail delivery [max 30 days] will not affect the germination of seeds. Payment through Paypal. If you are interested Pl contact by my e-mail. _________________ NR.Sundaram. Benadeniums, Nachalur-639110, Tamilnadu, India. PH +914323246237 Fax +914323246238 Mobile +919443179208 nrsundaram@gmail.com http://community.webshots.com/user/nrsundaram http://community.webshots.com/user/plumerianrsundaram
Adenium obesum even as narrowly defined here is a highly variable taxon in growth and flowering habits. It occurs nearly all the way across Africa in a broad band south of the Sahara, from Senegal to Sudan . Most plants in cultivation are of unknown origin, so it is not known how much of the natural variation of this wide-ranging taxon is represented. The few documented plants known to the authors are from southeastern Kenya, except for A.o. var. coetanum, which is reportedly from Arabia.
Adenium obesum is a shrubby plant. The thickened stems taper gradually upwards and may be rigid and upright or, less commonly, rather weak and spreading. Young plants have a small, ovoid caudex, and old specimens in habitat have large caudexes. Mature plants in cultivation, however, usually lack a distinct one.
Therefore this species is not, strictly speaking, a caudiciform in cultivation. The leaves range from narrow-linear to quite broad (but never as broad as those of A.multiflorum), and from bright, shiny green to light, dull green.
Adenium obesum is potentially semi-evergreen: if kept warm and well watered, plants will grow and often flower through the winter. Under such conditions they undergo only a brief leaf-drop and dormancy, usually a few weeks in spring or early summer. They can also endure a drought or cold-induced dormancy of several months, which is the normal condition in nature.
The flowers are pale pink to deep red on the petal margins, always fading to near white toward the throat. The throat is white, sometimes with faint red nectar guides. The anther appendages are long, equaling or exceeding the throat. Flower size averages about 6-7 cm (2 inches) in diameter, but this is quite variable among clones.
Flowering habit is extremely variable and is influenced by both cultural and genetic factors. When grown under ideal conditions of ample heat and water, some clones flower for two to four months; some clones are nearly everblooming. Most plants slow their growth and stop flowering when temperatures exceed about 100 degrees F, which occurs from about mid June to early August in Tucson.
Seed-grown plants are typically vigorous and can be flowered in as little as 8 to 12 months. Cutting-grown plants are equally vigorous; their roots become greatly enlarged in a couple of years and can be exposed when the plant is repotted to make a more interesting specimen. After several years the stems also will have thickened such that cuttings are indistinguishable from seed-grown plants. This is by far the commonest taxon of the genus in cultivation.
Adenium multiflorum (Sabi Star)
Adenium multiflorum is very different from A.obesum both horticulturally and geographically. It occurs on the east side of southern Africa, in Mozambique and the countries bordering it on the west and south.
In nature the plants are tall, multiple-stemmed shrubs. In cultivation they are always thick, sturdy, and upright. As in A.obesum, there is no distinct caudex in mature cultivated plants, but they have very enlarged stems and roots. Seedlings have a prominent, ovoid caudex for the first several years. The leaves are large and very broad.
In distinct contrast with A.obesum, this species has an obligatory long winter dormancy. Regardless of growing conditions, the leaves fall in autumn; growth will not resume for at least four months, longer in cool or dry conditions.
Adenium multiflorum flowers profusely for two to four months in winter while leafless, never at other times. The petals are white with sharply defined red edges. There are always 15 prominent red nectar guides in the white throat (three per petal). The anther appendages equal or exceed the throat. Flowers average about 6-7 cm (2 1/2 inches) in diameter, and the petals are more pointed than those of A.obesum.
Adenium multiflorum grow vigorously from seed, but mature at a larger size than plants of A.obesum. Plants rarely flower until they are 4 to 5 years old. Cuttings of A.muitiflorum develop thick roots and stems and make good specimens after a few years. This taxon is in cultivation but is a distant second to A.obesum in availability, probably because of its slower growth and shorter blooming season.
The Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)
The Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) Prepared by John McLaughlin and Joe Garofalo
Perhaps the principal misconception about desert rose concerns the perceived difficulties associated with growing the plant in a wet and warm climate such as that found in South Florida. Desert rose is, however, quite commonly cultivated in humid tropical areas such as Thailand, India and The Philippines. Growers in Thailand have produced hundreds of new varieties that are gradually being introduced to the US. If some simple precautions are taken, desert rose will grow into a spectacular low maintenance shrub for the South Florida landscapes, contributing both its distinctive form and an abundance of exceptionally showy flowers.
CLASSIFICATION.
The desert rose is usually simply referred to as Adenium obesum, however, the fuller name is A. obesum var obesum. In older literature desert rose may be referred to as A.arabicum.
The genus Adenium contains only one species, which is divided into several sub-species or botanical varieties. Some authors, however, recognize separate species. All are native to semi-arid climates. The name Adenium is derived from the Arabic name for the plant, Oddaejn, which means Aden, the former name for Yemen.
Adeniums are in the Apocynaceae (dogbane family), which includes mostly tropical species, such as Beaumontia, Carissa, Allamanda, Mandevillea, Nerium, Plumeria, and Tabernaemontana, which are widely used in warm climates. Most of these plants produce varying amounts of milky sap, which can cause skin irritation or, as with desert
rose, more severe internal poisoning.
ORIGIN.
A. obesum is found in sub-Saharan Africa from The Sudan into Kenya and westward to Senegal, and south to Natal and Swaziland. A few occur in the SW corner of the Arabian peninsular (Yemen).
DESCRIPTION.
Adeniums are pachycaul (with thickened stems) succulent shrubs or trees, with a distinct swollen base (caudex), much of which can be underground. Above ground the caudex can be almost globose to conical, narrowing before dividing into numerous irregularly spaced branches. In their native environment the plants are variable in appearance and floral display, but are usually slow growing and long lived, surviving for hundreds of years. In cultivated, mature specimens, a definite caudex is often no longer discernable. The branches are smooth, grayish green to brown with terminal, spirally arranged, small, glossy green leaves). In areas where they are indigenous, winters are dry and sufficiently cold to induce a period of dormancy with an associated loss of foliage In South Florida plants tend to loose many (but not all) of their leaves in winter, especially during extended, dry, cool weather. However, they never become completely dormant. Flowers. As with many members of the Apocynaceae (e.g., oleander and frangipani), flowers are salverform (tubular with flared lips), and range in color from deep purplish red, through pink to white. The many cultivars have flowers of various color blends, shapes and sizes (up to 3 inches). A few have the added bonus of an attractive fragrance.
Small, terminal clusters (corymbs) of flowers are produced during most of the year, though in some cultivars flowering is more restricted. In Florida, desert rose is at its showiest during the drier months of the year, from late winter to early summer, and can be almost totally covered in blooms.
Fruit. The fruit, which is classified as a follicle, splits along one side to release seeds bearing a pappus (tuft of hairs which aids in dispersal)) at each end. Seed production is not reliable, since pollination is often not successful, due to plants in cultivation being male or female sterile.
PROPAGATION.
As stated above, propagation from seed is not reliable because of pollination problems. For those developing new varieties, hand pollination using male/female compatible plants is necessary to ensure the production of viable seed. If fresh viable seed is available, germination rates are high if it is used promptly. Remove the pappus, dust the seeds in fungicide and sow in a sterile, sandy, free-draining soil mix. Germination occurs within a week at 85EF, and after a month seedlings should have at least 6 true leaves and be ready for transplanting. Seed grown plants will often flower the same year, and should be watered as needed and given regular applications of fertilizer.
The easiest method of propagation for most gardeners is by means of cuttings. Tip cuttings, preferably leafless, of about 5 inches are dipped in fungicide/rooting hormone and placed in a 75/25 mix of Perlite and Canadian peat that is just damp. Rooting can be speeded up with misting and bottom heat. Inspect cuttings for new leaves and discard any that exhibit signs of wilting.
Cleft grafting requires somewhat more skill, but is claimed to be more reliable and therefore preferable for valuable hybrid varieties. Rootstock and scion should be matched for size, with the rootstock being pruned about 3 inches above the caudex. Cut inch from either side of the severed end of the scion to form a wedge. A vertical inch
incision is then made across the cut surface of the rootstock, into which the trimmed scion is inserted so that the cambial layers of cutting and rootstock are in contact. Use grafting tape to wrap the join.
Air layering has been used to propagate desert rose to a limited extent, and if successful, roots will form in 6-8 weeks. Success is more likely during hot, humid weather.
PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE IN THE LANDSCAPE.
The two principal considerations when growing desert rose in the landscape relate to light exposure and soil moisture. Temperatures are of concern if they regularly fall below 35EF, when the plant should be grown in a moveable container (see below). At 40EF branch tips will be damaged, however the plant will survive.
Desert rose requires full sun under South Florida conditions; plants grown under excessive shade will flower poorly, are more liable to appear leggy and are prone to develop disease. Some growers choose to expose more of the underground part of the caudex as the plant grows, at which time it is necessary to protect this newly exposed portion of the plant from direct sun.
The steps necessary to control soil moisture should be reviewed before the desert rose is planted in the landscape. These include: constructing a raised bed in areas that are liable to flood or where drainage is poor; using a free draining soil mix; choosing a site in full sun and with good air circulation, and avoiding areas of the landscape where
automatic sprinklers are used. To construct a raised bed, use rocks and loose rubble (e.g. debris from holes dug in the ground for other plants) to build up a berm (mound with a flat top), 12 – 18 inches above the surrounding terrain. Cover with a 2-3 inch layer of 75:25, sand:top soil, then soak well with water, and leave the mound to settle for a few
days. Before planting the desert rose, create a depression in the top of the berm deep enough to accommodate the plant, which should be installed no deeper than it was growing in the container.
Whether planting in a raised bed or directly in the ground, use as backfill any free draining soil either mixing your own (1 part Perlite, 2 parts sharp sand and 2 parts coir of Canadian peat), or amending any soil-free potting mix with sharp sand, Perlite or pumice. Avoid damaging the roots during planting, since they are liable to become infected with
soil borne pathogens and rot. Do not use organic mulches around the plant, however river gravel or lava rock can be used to improve the appearance of the planting area. If you have used a raised bed consider planting other heat loving plants (e.g. dwarf varieties of crown-of-thorns, improved purslane varieties or native lantana) to cover the rest of the bed.
During the first 2 -3 years young plants (seedlings or rooted stem cuttings) make rapid growth if provided with adequate fertilizer, slowing as specimens become more mature. Provide young plants with a complete liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the spring, then a slow release palm special fertilizer in early Summer, and again in early Fall. Liquid fertilizer can be used during the dry winter months when temperatures stay above 80EF. For more mature plants, the amount of liquid fertilizer can be reduced, or even eliminated, however, the application of slow release fertilizer should be maintained.
Desert rose will thrive under conditions of copious rainfall during hot periods of the year (temperatures above 80EF), provided they are growing in a perfectly free draining soil on a site that does not flood (see above). During the cooler months of the year however, desert rose is far more prone to root rots, and in South Florida the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Water should be completely withheld if day-time temperatures fall below 80EF, or the weather is cool cloudy. In South Florida desert rose can be grown outdoors year round, with regular watering restricted to those times of the year when there is an extended period of hot, dry weather, as sometimes occurs in late
Spring.
GROWING IN CONTAINERS
Desert rose can be grown in any container that permits adequate drainage. Unglazed ceramic pots are ideal, in that they allow the soil to dry out between each watering. If a clay pot is used it must be wide enough (i.e., dish shaped) to allow for expansion of the caudex, otherwise the container could crack. A free draining potting mix should be used
with frequent applications of liquid fertilizer (half strength 20/20/20) until the plant reaches maturity. Consider a container in areas where Winter temperatures are too low to safely grow the plant outdoors. In areas with cool, wet Winters, growing desert rose in a moveable container has the advantage that it permits placing the plant under cover
during rainy periods.
PESTS AND DISEASES.
Apart from scale insects and mealybugs, and occasional infestations with spider mites, there appear to be few insect pests that are a serious problem. Caution is indicated in pesticide use since desert rose is sensitive to many sprays, especially those containing oils. As indicated above, diseases are far more limiting in successfully growing desert rose, especially the bacterial and fungal root and stem rots. Prevention (following the planting and maintenance guide above) is the best strategy, since there is little that can be done once a plant is infected. Inspect plants after any cold weather for damage to branches, since this renders them more prone to subsequent rot that can then spread to healthy parts of the plant. Any cold damaged branches (look for burnt leaves and a loss of turgor) should be removed. Fungal leaf spotting diseases are occasional problems, more so during extended periods of wet weather.
CULTIVARS.
Several cultivars of A. obesum are available including 'Singapore', with large rose pink flowers and several with white flowers (e.g. 'Grumbley's White'). Other members of the taxa whilst not as widely grown are available from specialist growers, especially A. swazicum and A. somalense. An increasing number of hybrid types are becoming available, with the most recent introductions those from Thailand. These are available from several mail order specialist nurseries.
Adenium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, containing a single species, Adenium obesum, also known as Sabi Star, Kudu or Desert-rose. It is native to tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia.
Close-up of a flower
It is an evergreensucculentshrub in tropical climates and semi-deciduous to deciduous in colder climates, is also dependent on the particular species. Growing to 1-3 m in height, with pachycaul stems and a stout, swollen basal caudex. The leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture, 5-15 cm long and 1-8 cm broad. The flowers are tubular, 2-5 cm long, with the outer portion 4-6 cm diameter with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.
Adenium is a popular houseplant in temperate regions. It requires a sunny location and a minimum indoor temperature in winter of 10 °C. It thrives on a xeric watering regime as required by cacti. Adenium is typically propagated by seed or stem cuttings. The numerous hybrids are propagated mainly by grafting onto seedling rootstock. While plants grown from seed are more likely to have the swollen caudex at a young age, with time many cutting-grown plants cannot be distinguished from seedlings.
The plant exudes a highly toxic sap which is used by some peoples, such as the Akie in Tanzania, to coat arrow-tips for hunting.[1]
Due to its resemblance to plumeria, and the fact that it was introduced to the Philippines from Bangkok, Thailand, the plant was also called as Bangkok kalachuchi in the Philippines.
The project by Rahab Muinga from KARI-Mombasa originates from previous work with dairy cows at the station. In that research, the overall effect of fresh Mucuna forage on milk production was found to be similar to that of other legume forages like Gliricidia sepium, Clitoria ternatea and Lablab purpureus.
However, during the 12th week of experimentation, cows fed with Mucuna forage produced one liter of milk less than those fed with the other legumes. Levels of L-dopa in the forage and in the cows' blood were not determined in the previous study.
hyacinth bean, lablab bean, field bean, pig-ears, rongai dolichos, lab-lab bean, poor man's bean, Tonga bean (English); dolique lab-lab, dolique d'Egypte, frijol jacinto, quiquaqua, caroata chwata, poroto de Egipto, chicarros, frijol caballo, gallinita, frijol de adorno, carmelita, frijol caballero, pois nourrice (Spanish); faselbohne, helmbohne, schlangenbohne, batao, wal, sem, lubia (the Sudan); fiwi bean (Zambia); antaque, banner bean (Caribbean); wal (India); batao (Philippines); natoba, toba (Fiji); pois Antaque; pois de Senteur, tapirucusu.
Morphological description
Domesticated types are mostly summer growing annuals or occasionally short-lived perennials; a vigorously trailing, twining herbaceous plant. Wild germplasm is strongly perennial. Stems robust, trailing to upright to 3-6 m in length; leaves trifoliate; leaflets broad ovate-rhomboid, 7.5-15 cm long, thin, acute at apex, almost smooth above and short haired underneath. Petioles long and slender. Inflorescencelax, fascicled, of many-flowered racemes on elongated peduncles. Flowers white (in cv. Rongai) or blue or purple (in cv.Highworth), on short pedicels. Pods 4-5 cm long, broadly scimitar shaped, smooth and beaked by the persistent style , containing two to four seeds, or 6-8 in var. bengalensis . Seeds in cv. Rongai buff or pale brown coloured, ovoid, laterally compressed, with a linear white conspicuous hilum, 1.0 cm long x 0.7 cm broad, seeds of 'Highworth' black with a linear white hilum . Seed colour of other varieties can range from white or cream through to light and dark brown, red to black. Seeds can have a mottled colouring in some domesticated varieties and in all wild material. Seed weight 2,000-5,000seeds/kg.
Distribution
Native to: Africa: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Cote D'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa (Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal), Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar.
Now widely cultivated pan-tropically.
Uses/applications
Lablab is a dual-purpose legume. It is traditionally grown as a pulse crop for human consumption in south and southeast Asia and eastern Africa. Flowers and immature pods also used as a vegetable. It is also used as a fodder legume sown for grazing and conservation in broad-acre agricultural systems in tropical environments with a summer rainfall. Also used as green manure, cover crop and in cut-and-carry systems and as a concentrate feed. It can be incorporated into cereal cropping systems as a legume ley to address soil fertility decline and is used as an intercrop species with maize to provide better legume/stover feed quality. As a dual purpose (human food and animal feed) legume , it is sown as a monoculture or in intercrop systems.
Ecology
Soil requirements
Grows in a wide range of soils from deep sands to heavy clays, provided drainage is good, and from pH 4.5-7.5. Low salinity tolerance with symptoms being chlorotic leaves, reduced growth and plant death. Lablab does not always nodulate well with native strains of rhizobia but some virgin soils in sub-tropical Australia appear to have suitable native rhizobia populations, which have resulted in good growth without inoculation of seed. Nevertheless it is recommended to be sown with the appropriate lablab rhizobia strain, which in Australia is Group J.
Adapted to annualrainfall regimes of 650-3,000 mm. Drought tolerant when established, and will grow where rainfall is <500 mm, but loses leaves during prolonged dry periods. Capable of extracting soil water from at least 2 metres depth even in heavy textured soils. Will tolerate short periods of flooding but intolerant of poor drainage and prolonged inundation .
Temperature
Grows best at average daily temperatures of 18-30°C and is tolerant of high temperatures. Able to grow at low temperatures (down to 3°C) for short periods. Frost susceptible, but tolerates very light frosts. More tolerant of cold than either Mucuna pruriens or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Will grow at altitudes from sea level to elevations of up to 2,000 m asl in tropical environments.
Light
Intolerant of moderate to heavy shading.
Reproductive development
Short-day flowering response, with early ('Highworth') and late ('Rongai', 'Endurance') flowering types available. Other varieties are much earlier flowering than 'Highworth' with some landraces flowering as early as 55 days after sowing. Known to have some outcrossing but observations suggest that this is usually minimal. Being an annual or weak perennial , lablab flowers and sets seed in the first season of growth.
Defoliation
Three harvests possible from annual types, but will not stand heavy grazing of stems. For green manure, the crop should be cut before flower initiation. More tolerant of grazing than cowpea, and more harvests possible. As a forage , the crop should be utilised before flowering.
Percentage of hard seed is very low and no scarification is required. Complete cultivation is used for lablab monocultures with seeding rates of between 12 and 20 kg/ha. Rows should be 80-120 cm apart, with 30-50 cm between plants. Seed can be planted to a depth of 3-10 cm. Will establish readily when sown into subsurface moisture to a depth of at least 7-10 cm. When planted with grasses, seed rates should be 5-8 kg/ha. Will not establish readily into existing pastures without some form of soil disturbance. Provided seed is of good quality, germination should be rapid and uniform as commercial cultivars have soft seed and require no scarification .
Fertiliser
While it is common to grow lablab without fertilizer applications, sowings in sandy soils often require applications of phosphorus and sulphur and benefit from applications of lime in very acid soils.
Compatibility (with other species)
When used for forage in large areas, lablab is often sown with annualgrass crops such as annual sorghums and millets. Such mixtures can be strip-grazed through late summer into autumn. Light grazing to remove leaf only will prolong the productive life of lablab pastures. In smallholder systems, lablab can be intercropped with maize. The lablab should be sown about 28 days after the maize to avoid severe cereal crop yield depression from competition.
The pod -boring insect Adisura atkinsoni can reduce seed yields but has been controlled experimentally by strain HB-III of Bacterium cereus var. thuringensis. Other insect pests include Heliothis armigera, Exelastis atomosa and Maruca testulalis. Bruchid beetles (Callosobruchus spp.) damage seed during growth and storage. Lablab roots are attacked by several nematodes: Helicotylenchus dihystera, Meloidogyne hapla and M. incognita. Anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum), leaf-spot (caused by Cercospora dolichi) and powdery mildew (caused by Leveillula taurica var. macrospora) have been reported. A stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum may attack the plant under wet conditions. In Australia, cultivar Rongai is fairly disease-free and generally lablab is more tolerant to root diseases than cowpeas.
Ability to spread
Will not spread naturally under grazing. May volunteer in subsequent crops but this is usually only for one year because of the low level of hard seed.
Weed potential
None due to its short-lived nature and poor longevity of seed. Reported as a weed in cropped areas in some humid-tropical locations where individual plants may live up to 3 years, but no report as an environmental weed.
Leaf has CP content of 21-38%, commonly about 26%. Much lower for stem (7-20%). Grain contains 20-28% CP . Digestibility ranges from 55-76%, commonly >60% (leaves). Grain high in vitamins A, B and C.
Palatability/acceptability
Leaf is highly palatable, but stem has low palatability. Palatability of grain is low to moderate depending on variety.
Toxicity
Leaf does not contain anti-nutritive factors such as tannins. Mixed plantings with forage sorghum prevents the occurrence of bloat. Grain contains tannins, and phytate and trypsin inhibitors. Concentrations vary among varieties. Soaking or cooking reduces the activity of these compounds.
Production potential
Dry matter
Seasonal yields of 2 t/ha leaf or 4 t/ha stem and leaf are common in sub-humid sub-tropics. Dry matter yield is usually higher than for cowpea, particularly under drought conditions. For human nutrition, 2-7 t/ha green pods. In monoculture, 1-2.5 t/ha DM, depending on cultivar.
In Brazil, Zebu cattle grazing maize stalks, dry grasses and green lablab gained 350 g/head/day over a 3-month period, while cattle without lablab lost weight. In sub-tropical Australia, cattle gains have ranged from 0.09-1.04 kg/head/day depending on the feeding conditions. Trials in Zimbabwe have demonstrated that the use of a lablab hay supplement resulted in milk yield increases slightly less than those obtained through the use of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens). Milk quality was also slightly less than that achieved with velvet bean but still very acceptable. Supplementing the diet of goats with lablab in Zimbabwe has been shown to yield better condition for does, higher kid birth weights and growth rates, and higher milk yields.
Genetics/breeding
The biosystematics of hyacinth bean and its relatives were reviewed and revised. Formerly, Lablab was included in the genus Dolichos following Linneus, but is now assigned to the monotypic genus Lablab. Three subspecies are recognized in L. purpureus; ssp. uncinatus: the wild ancestral form distributed mainly in East Africa with small, scimitar-shaped pods of about 40 mm x15 mm; ssp. purpureus, cultivated as a pulse crop, has larger, scimitar-shaped pods, 100 mm x 40 mm; includes commercial varieties; and ssp. bengalensis, Asiatic origin, has linear-oblong shaped pods, longer than other subspecies, up to 140 mm x 10-25 mm. Although pod shape is a significant morphological difference, it is widely believed that ssp. bengalensis and ssp. purpureus are genetically very similar. Although most domesticated material is either ssp. purpureus or ssp. bengalensis, ssp. uncinatus has been domesticated in Ethiopia. Studies in lablab have shown that the perennial types have considerable genetic and morphological diversity. Hybrids between perennial and forage types have been produced at CSIRO, Australia and have resulted in new cultivars being released. Lablab is predominantly self-fertilizing. Chromosome number 2n = 22.
Seed production
Intermittent flowering and pod production. Grain maturation on the forage cultivars is not uniform but crop landrace types often have more synchronous maturity. High grain yields of 1-2.5 t/ha, depending on cultivar, but when grown on trellises in smallholder systems the grain yields can be far greater. In mixtures with other crops, grain yields 0.5 t/ha. Late seeding varieties may be affected by early frosts. There is some evidence that lablab accessions with light coloured seeds have poor storage potential, which in turn affects seedling vigour and establishment.
Herbicide effects
Lablab is highly sensitive to 2,4-D, M.C.P.A., 2,4-D-B and dicamba .
Strengths
A dual purpose legume and can be used with cereals in smallholder systems.
Can be sown with summer grass crops to provide a mixed forage crop system.
Indeterminate flowering leading to extended seeding period in current cultivars.
Other comments
Has considerable potential as a multipurpose legume in crop-livestock systems where rotations are possible.
Selected references
Agishi, E.C. (1991) A bibliography on Lablab purpureus. Plant Science Division Working Document No. A6 . International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ayisi, K.K., Bopane, M.P. and Pengelly, B.C. (2004) Assessment of the variation in growth and yield of diverse lablab (Lablab purpureus) germplasm in Limpopo Province, South Africa. In: Whitbread, A.M. and Pengelly, B.C. (eds). Tropical Legumes for Sustainable Farming Systems in Southern Africa and Australia. ACIAR proceedings No. 115. pp. 44-50.
English, B.H. (1999) Lablab purpureus in Australia. In: Loch, D.S. and Ferguson, J.E. (eds). Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and subtropical species. pp. 395-399. (CAB International, Wallingford, UK).
Hendricksen, R.E. and Minson, D.J. (1985) Lablab purpureus - a review. Herbage Abstracts, 55, 215-228.
Loch, D.S. and Ferguson, J.E. (1999) Tropical and subtropical forage seed production: an overview. In: Loch, D.S. and Ferguson, J.E. (eds). Forage seed production. Vol. 2: Tropical and subtropical species. pp. 1-40. (CAB International, Wallingford, UK).
Maass, B.L., Jamnadass, R.H., Hanson, J, and Pengelly, B.C. (2004) Determining sources of diversity in cultivated and wild Lablab purpureusrelated to provenance of germplasm by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (in press).
Murungweni, C., Mabuku, O. and Manyawu, G.J. (2004) Mucuna, Lablab and Paprika calyx as substitutes for commercial protein sources used in dairy and pen-fattening diets by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. In: Whitbread, A.M. and B.C. Pengelly, B.C. (eds). ACIAR Proceedings No 115. pp. 126-135.
NAS (1979) Lablab bean. In: Tropical legumes: Resources for the future . pp. 59-67. (National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA).
Oram, R.N.(1990) Register of Australian Herbage Plant Cultivars. Third Edition. pp. 173-174. (CSIRO, Australia).
Pengelly, B.C. and Maass, B.L. (2001) Lablab purpureus(L.) Sweet - diversity, potential use and determination of a core collection of this multi-purpose tropical legume . Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 48, 261-272.
Peters, M., Franco, L.H., Schmidt, A. and Hincapie, B. (2003) Especies Forrajeras Multiproposito: Opciones para Productores de Centroamerica. CIAT, Cali, Colombia. (In Spanish).
Schaaffhausen, R.V. (1963) Dolichos lablab or hyacinth bean: its uses for feed, food and soil improvement. Economic Botany, 17, 146-153.
Shivashankar, G., and Kulkarni, R.S. (1989) Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet. In: van der Maesen, L.J.G. and Somaatmadja, S. (eds). Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 1. Pulses. pp. 48-50. (Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen, the Netherlands).
Introduced to Australia as CPI 17883 from Kenya, 'Rongai' is a late-flowering variety with high DM production. 'Rongai' has white flowers and light brown seeds. In the absence of frosts, may flower over several months. Most common forage cultivar. Seed weight 5,000 seeds/kg.
'Highworth'
Australia, 1973
Introduced to Australia as CPI 30212 from southern India. Earlier-flowering variety originally intended for grain production (high seed yield) in areas experiencing early frosts. Also has adequate forage DM production. 'Highworth' has purple flowers and black seeds. Seed weight 4,000 seeds/kg.
'Koala'
Australia, 1995
Early maturing grain type, able to seed set before the onset of frost in northern NSW and southern Queensland, Australia. Produces about 70% of the DM yield of 'Highworth' and 'Rongai'.
'Endurance'
Australia, currently on pre-release
Perennial cultivar, developed from the perennial line CPI 24973 and cv. Rongai, that grows well in the second and even third year. High DM production potential . Seed weight 5,500 seeds/kg.
