Gliricidia sepium Flower

Gliricidia sepium,also known as quickstick or madre de cacao, is a flowering tree species that belongs to the family Fabaceae.The tree is native to Central America and northern South America, but it has been widely introduced and cultivated in many tropical regions around the world.The flowers of Gliricidia sepium are small, fragrant, and typically pink or purple in color.They grow in clusters on long stalks and bloom in the spring or summer,depending on the climate.The flowers are followed by long, slender seed pods that contain several seeds.The tree is valued for its many uses,including as a source of firewood, forage, and traditional medicine. It is also used in agroforestry systems as a shade tree for crops, and as a nitrogen-fixing plant to improve soil fertility.In addition, Gliricidia sepium has potential for use in phytoremediation,as it is capable of removing heavy metals from contaminated soils.