Description: A fast-growing small tree with soft branches, compound leaves and large pendulous flowers, usually white or reddish.

Identification: Long pinnate leaves; many small leaflets; large pea-like flowers; elongated pods.

Habitat & distribution: Tropical Asia; cultivated in India for food, fodder and other uses. Kew records it as cultivated widely and used for food, forage and green manure.

Uses / importance: Young leaves and flowers are used as food; also valued as fodder, green manure and a fast-growing multipurpose tree.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Angiosperms
Clade – Eudicots
Order – Fabales
Family – Fabaceae
Subfamily – Faboideae
Genus – Sesbania
Species – S. grandiflora

Sources: Kew POWO; ICAR; India Biodiversity Portal.