Sesbania grandiflora Agati, hummingbird tree 500, 1000, 5000 seeds 3

Description

Sesbania grandiflora
Agati, hummingbird tree/scarlet wisteria
Sesbania grandiflora a short-lived, quick-growing, soft-wooded tree, 15mt. High and 0.6m in girth it is a native of Malaysia and is grown in many parts of India such as Punjab, Delhi, Bengal, Assam and the Andamans.  Leaves 15-30cm long, abruptly pinnate; leaflets 41-61, linear-oblong, glabrous, 2.5-5.0cm x 0.5 - 1.6cm; racemes 2 - 4 flowered, short, axillary; flowers 6.0-10cm long with showy, fleshy white, pink or crimson petals; pods pendulous 30.0 - 45cm x 0.6-0.8cm, rather flat and somewhat 4-cornered, non-torulose, septate with swoolen margins and 15-50 pale colored seeds. Agathi is grown for ornament and is valued as food and also as a good fodder.  It is grown as a support for pepper and betel vines, as shade plant for coconut seedlings, and as wind-break in banana fields. Bark yields a good fibre and a gum and various parts of agathi have medicinal value.
Requires a sunny position for best growth. Prefers a fertile, moist but well-drained moderately light soil, though it succeeds in light sandy, medium, heavy clayey and low fertility soils. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 8.5, but can tolerate acid conditions down to 4.5
Scarification:
Soak in hot tap water, let stand in water for 24 hours.
Stratification:
none required.
Germination:
Sow seed 1/4" deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed.
Other:
If hot water does not allow the seed to imbibe, nick the seed carefully and soak again in warm water.
12,500 seeds/kg
USDA zone: 10