Apa apa (Flemingia macrophylla)

Apa apa (Flemingia macrophylla) is a plant species in Fabaceae, woody shrub, perennial, deep-rooted, erect, 0.6-2.4 meters high, flat or triangular stems, green or brown or gray in color and white or brown hair.

F. macrophylla has trifoliate leaves with long stalks and hairs. Leaflets are thin, elongated oval in shape, the tip is sharp, the upper surface is dark green and glabrous, the lower surface is gray and hairy.

Spicate-racemose or paniculate dense inflorescences and bracts foliaceous or dry, persistent or deciduous. The pods are small and turn brown when ripe. Cracked pods, generally with 2 seeds in the vessel. Seeds are round, 2–3 mm in diameter, and shiny black.

This species grows in shrubs, forests, meadows, forest edges and the like. The bushes are mostly seen under trees along streams and in meadows, in clay and lateritic soils.

This plant is tolerant of light shade and can survive fires. Tolerant of long dry spells and very poor soils with waterlogging. Grows on a wide range of soils in the pH range of 4-8 and highly soluble aluminum (80% saturation). Rainfall 1100-3500 mm/year. Flowering and fruiting all year round.

The plant is used in a variety of weed control and soil protection and erosion control practices. Often used to shade young coffee and cocoa plants.

Extracts from this plant have been used to treat rheumatism, female reproductive organs, skin care and anti-oxidants. The active compounds Flemingin P and Flemingin Q from the leaves have anti-breast cancer cell activity (4T1 and T47D cells). The leaves inhibit the growth of cancer cells from the early stages of metastasis to apoptosis.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Phaseoleae
Subtribe: Cajaninae
Genus: Flemingia
Species: Flemingia macrophylla

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