Eriosema

Eriosema is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. Accepted species number over 150.^[1] The genus is widespread in tropics.

Eriosema
Eriosema campestre, Brazil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Clade:	Millettioids
Tribe:	Phaseoleae
Subtribe:	Cajaninae
Genus:	Eriosema (DC.) Desv.
Type species
Eriosema rufum (Kunth) G.Don
Species
See text
Synonyms
Eriosema G.Don Euriosma Desv. Pyrrhotrichia Wight & Arn. Rhynchosia sect. Eriosema DC.

Description

Species of Eriosema are mostly herbs or shrublets. Leaves are pinnately 3-foliolate, rarely reduced to a single leaflet. Inflorescences are 1–2-flowered or pedunculate racemes in the leaf axils, yellow to orange, calyx is campanulate, consists of five similar lobes. Pods are short and flattened with two seeds.^[2][3]

Selected species

• Eriosema campestre Benth. — Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil
• Eriosema chinense Vogel — South-East Asia, East Himalaya, India, New Guinea, Australia
• Eriosema defoliatum Benth. — Brazil
• Eriosema glabrum Mart. ex Benth. — Argentina, Brazil
• Eriosema glaziovii Harms — Brazil
• Eriosema harmsianum Dinter — Namibia
• Eriosema kraussianum Meisn. — South Africa
• Eriosema longifolium Benth. — Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay
• Eriosema salignum E.Mey. — South Africa
• Eriosema stenophyllum Harms — Brazil

• 
  Eriosema umtamvunense in Umtamvuna Nature Reserve
• 
  Eriosema longifolium in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
• 
  Eriosema kraussianum in KwaZulu-Natal
• 
  Eriosema salignum in fruit in South Africa.

Uses

Root tubers of Eriosema species have been traditional food for Aborigines of the Northern Territory.^[4]