Flemingia is a genus of approximately 46–80 species of shrubs, herbs, and subshrubs belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, order Fabales. The genus was erected in 1812 by William Roxburgh and published by William Townsend Aiton in Hortus Kewensis (4: 349). Plants in this genus are generally compact, reaching 0.2–1.5 m in height, and are characterised by prostrate but weak stems densely covered with hairs. Leaves are alternate, flat, and small to medium-sized; the entire plant—stem and leaves alike—is notably pubescent. Flowers are borne in racemes, heads, or panicles and are not crowded at the stem bases. The small, hairy, non-fleshy fruits are aerial and measure approximately 6–15 mm in length.
The genus ranges widely across the tropics and subtropics: it is native to sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and tropical Asia—including Bhutan, Myanmar, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam—as well as Australasia. Species may be evergreen or deciduous and are perennial in habit. Several species have ethnobotanical significance; Aboriginal peoples of Australia's Northern Territory have historically eaten the root tubers of Flemingia plants. The genus is commonly known as "flemingias."
Etymology
The genus Flemingia was named in honour of John Fleming (1747–1829), a Scottish physician and naturalist who served in India and made contributions to natural history. The name was applied by William Roxburgh and formally published by William Townsend Aiton in Hortus Kewensis in 1812.
Distribution
Flemingia is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, including sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and a broad sweep of tropical Asia spanning Bhutan, Myanmar, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as Australasia.
Cultural Uses
Root tubers of Flemingia species have traditionally been gathered and eaten as food by Aboriginal communities in Australia's Northern Territory, representing one of the genus's documented ethnobotanical uses.
