Gliricidia, Forest Lilac, Mexican Lilac

Gliricidia sepium

Physical Characteristics

Gliricidia sepium is a deciduous Shrub growing to 10 m (32ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. The plant is not self-fertile. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Distribution

Central America - Costa Rica, north to Mexico.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Edible Uses: Edible portion: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable. Flowers - cooked and eaten as a potherb[301 , 317 ]. They are also folded into a batter and fried[301 , 303 ]. The leaves have been reported as being eaten. They are used in a fish dish. There are some reports that all parts of this plant are poisonous. The leaves have been used to kill rats.

Medicinal Uses

Antidermatosic Antifungal Expectorant Febrifuge Sedative Skin The plant is reported to be expectorant, sedative and suppurative[303 ]. Crude extracts have been shown to have antifungal activity[303 ]. The plant is a folk remedy for alopecia, boils, bruises, burns, colds, cough, debility, eruptions, erysipelas, fever, fractures, gangrene, headache, itch, prickly heat, rheumatism, skin tumours, ulcers, urticaria and wounds[303 ].

Known Hazards

The leaves, seeds or powdered bark are toxic to humans when mixed with cooked rice or maize and fermented. They are used to poison rats, mice and other rodents[447 ]. The mechanism of toxicity is not understood[303 ].(All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested )