Agasti

Agasti (Sesbania grandiflora) is a small erect soft-wooded tree, which grows in backyard vegetable gardens, along roadsides, and on dikes between rice paddies. The tree produces white to pink colored flowers and pinnate leaves with linear oblong leaflets. The tender leaves, green fruit and flowers are used in curries and salads, or eaten fresh. Tender portions of the tree are considered as cattle fodder. The wood can be used instead of bamboo. This ornamental shade tree is grown for reforestation.

The bark, leaves, gums and flowers possess medicinal value. Agasti is reported to be an aperient, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, laxative and tonic. Medicine made out of it is prescribed as remedy for bruises, catarrh, dysentery, fevers, headaches, smallpox, sores, sore throat and stomatitis.