Gaach-Munga / Sesban
Sesbania grandiflora
Also known as Humming Bird Tree
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & more
- Flowering
- December-March
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Sesbania grandiflora
- Genus
- Sesbania
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Cultivated
- Habitat type
- Cultivated
- Native to
- Indonesia
- Distribution
- Tropical Africa, Asia
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal
- Flowering & fruiting
- December-March
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf type
- Pinnately compound (leaflets in rows along a stalk)recorded
- Leaf shape
- OrbicularrecordedRounded, roughly circular.“The leaves are regular and rounded, and grow to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long, with leaflets in 10–20 pairs or more and an odd one.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf surface
- Glabrous (smooth, hairless)recorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Characters marked “recorded” are for Gaach-Munga itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Yellowrecorded
- Flower arrangement
- RacemerecordedIndividual stalked flowers arranged along a central stem, opening from bottom to top.“The flowers white, red or pink and are oblong, 1.5–10 cm (1–4 in) long in lax, with two to four flower racemes.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Raceme
- Fruit
- Legume
Characters marked “recorded” are for Gaach-Munga itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- गाछ मूंगा Gaach-munga, Hathya, अगस्ति Agasti, agathi
- Bengali
- Buko, Bak
- Tamil
- Sevvagatti, Muni
- Telugu
- అవిశ Avisha, Ettagise, Sukanasamu
- Kannada
- ಅಗಸಿ Agasi, ಅಗಸೆ Agase, ಚಿನ್ನದಾರೆ Chinnadaare
- Malayalam
- Akatti
- Marathi
- शेवरी Shevari, हतगा Hatga
- Gujarati
- અગથિયો
Gaach-Munga in India
Agati is a fast-growing soft-wooded tree whose flowers and leaves are eaten — गाछ मूंगा Gaach-munga (Hindi), Sevvagatti (Tamil), అవిశ Avisha (Telugu), ಅಗಸಿ Agasi (Kannada), Akatti (Malayalam), शेवरी Shevari (Marathi). Sesbania grandiflora is grown across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, on field bunds and in home gardens.
Uses
Its large white (or pink) flowers and tender leaves are cooked as vegetables — agathi keerai is a valued South Indian green, and the flowers go into curries and fritters. As a fast nitrogen-fixing legume it is grown for green manure, fodder and quick shade.
How to Identify Gaach-Munga
A short-lived, slender tree with long pinnate leaves of many small leaflets. The flowers are large and pea-shaped — curved like a parrot's beak or a hummingbird — in white or rose, followed by very long, slender, ribbon-like pods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Sesban called in different Indian languages?
- गाछ मूंगा Gaach-munga (Hindi); Sevvagatti (Tamil); అవిశ Avisha (Telugu); ಅಗಸಿ Agasi (Kannada); Akatti (Malayalam); शेवरी Shevari (Marathi); Buko (Bengali); અગથિયો (Gujarati).
- Can you eat agati flowers?
- Yes — the large flowers and tender leaves are cooked as vegetables; agathi keerai is a popular South Indian green and the flowers are used in curries.
- Why is agati planted on farms?
- As a fast-growing nitrogen-fixing legume it is grown for green manure, fodder, quick shade and edible leaves and flowers.
Fabaceae
Legume/Bean family
Gaach-Munga belongs to the Fabaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Fabaceae
View all Fabaceae →Sources: GBIF — Sesbania grandiflora (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · iNaturalist — Sesbania grandiflora (regional names, India observations) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Sesbania grandiflora (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)