 Gen info
- Etymology: Genus name
'Trichanthera' is Latin, meaning 'hairy anther.'
- The common name "Madre de agua" refers to its use in Latin America
to protect water courses, where it is planted abundantly around springs, river banks, and wells to prevent water erosion. (4)
Botany
Trichanthera gigantea is a small to medium sized shrub, usually about 5 meters high but can grow to a height of 12-15 m. Crown 6 m in diameter. Branches are many, quadrangular with minutely haired tips. Leaves are opposite, borne on 1-5 cm long petioles. Leaf blades are 26 cm long and 14 cm wide, ovate to oblong, dark green on the upper surface and paler on the underside. Inflorescences are compact terminal panicles bearing 12-20 bell-like flowers. Corolla is 3-4 cm long, red at the base, becoming yellow at the throat. Flowers Flower have conspicuous, long, hairy anthers. Fruits are dehiscent, woody capsules, containing between 4 to 40 seeds, which split open once the seeds mature. Like all plants of the Acanthaceae family, T. gigantea forms cystoliths, which are small mineral concretions that appear as minute small lines on the upper surface of the leaves, the upper portions of the stems on the branches of the inflorescences and on the calyx. (4)
Distribution
- Introduced.
- Native to Brazil, Columbia. Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.
-
Successfully introduced to Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
- It can be cultivated from sea level to 2000 m.
Constituents
- Nutritive study of Madre de agua leaf meal for pigs yielded 88.44% dry matter, 18.21% crude protein, 12.5% crude fiber, 2.66% crude fat, 21.60% ash, 11.56% moisture, 5% calcium, 0.41% total phosphorus and 2,983 kcal/kg gross energy.
- Nacedero is relatively rich in protein (12-22% DM). Most of the crude protein is true protein
and the balance of amino acid appears to be good. The ash content (often more than 20% DM) and more specifically the calcium content have been found to be particularly high compared with other fodder trees. This may be attributed to the presence of cystoliths in the leaves, which may help explain why, i farms in Columbia, it is used as a lactogenic drink with a potential for feeding lactating animals. The fiber content is extremely variable with NDF values in the range of 33 to 66% of DM. (4)
Properties
Considered nutritive, lactogenic.
Parts used
Leaves
Uses
Edibility
- Sprouts are edible. Used in the preparation of maize porridge. (4)
Folkloric
- Leaf decoction used for stomach aches.
- Used for treatment of nephritis, as blood tonic,
and as a lactogenic drink for nursing mothers. (4)
Others
- Fodder: A livestock feed; traditionally used as fodder for pigs and rabbits. Compared to other tree foliages,it appears more palatable to pigs and rabbits than to small ruminants. Leaves and green stems about 8 to 9 month after planting, and, thereafter, at intervals of two to four months, with an annual fresh biomass yield of about 60 tonnes/ha, containing about 10 tonnes of dry matter and 2 tonnes of protein. Its invitro and in sacco fermentaility suggests great potential as livestock feed. (2)
- Agroforestry: Planted for erosion control and afforestation programmes. Used as a living fence to prevent soil erosion.
- Veterinary: In Columbia, leaves used to treat horse colic and retained placenta in cows.
Studies
• Note: there are many studies of T. gigantea relating to its veterinary use as fodder for pigs, rabbits and ruminants. There is a surprising dearth on studies relating to bioactivities.
•
Leaf Meal Nutritive Analysis / Pig Fodder: Study evaluated the nutritive potential of Madre de agua leaf meal feed for growing pigs. (see constituents above) (3)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Cultivated as animal fodder.
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