Description
An interesting vine, usually seen growing as a groundcover. It will twine around only if there are other plants nearby. Near the base it has self-pollinating flowers which will form small pear-shaped fruits under the ground (the peanuts), which are edible and can provide a free snack during your hiking! They have been used as food by the Indigenous People, but don’t count on them, except as a tiny snack ;)
On the aerial stems there white flowers which are pollinated by insects and it will form pods with ‘regular’, small size bean-like seeds.
But maybe the most important trait of this plant is that, like other legumes, it is capable of fixing nitrogen by forming root nodules. It will improve the soil where it grows with beneficial effects on all the other plants around.
Use it as a delicate ground cover in part shaded areas, or at the edge of the woodland garden, allowing the delicate twining stems to scramble over the nearby plants.
Germination: easy with pre-soaking of the seeds in warm water before sowing (light scarification can also be used); warm germinator, slow to germinate. Hot water treatment can also be applied.
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