Summary: Crotalaria juncea (Sunhemp) is a plant in the Fabaceae family. Verdica documents 5 traditional uses, 15 phytochemical compounds, and 4 herb-drug interactions for this species.
Crotalaria juncea or commonly known as Sun Hemp is an evergreen shrub that reaches up to 2.5 m in height and 2 m in width. Its stem is erect with silky hairs on the branches. It has a strong taproot and the roots have root nodules. The leaves are spirally arranged, narrow, and simple. The pea-shaped flowers are yellow in colour. The fruit is a pod that is covered with soft hairs, short, inflated and light yellow in colour. The seeds are believed to purify the blood and are used in the treatment of impetigo and psoriasis. The leaves and flowers are edible. The plant is widely grown in the tropics as a green manure, often as a cover crop. The bark yields fibre used in making twine and cord, canvas and fishing nets, and paper and pulp. The fibre is stronger when wet and is resistant to mildew, moisture and microorganisms in salt water.
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Moderate — drought tolerant once established |
| Soil | Well-drained; nitrogen-fixing — minimal fertilizer needed |
| Hardiness Zone | Varies widely (USDA 2-11) |
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