From the biological viewpoint, the used part is the wood of the stem; the plant's name presumably comes from the similarity of its spongy wood to the soft
pith of harder woody plants.
Aeschynomene spp. wood is one of the lightest woods in the world. Aeschynomene woods feel like pieces of
expanded polystyrene or even lighter, and have a corky texture. They are bright white to off-white (white with a slight reddish or yellowish tinge) in color. This corky material is used to make some traditional Indian crafts and artworks, and also decorative objects for worship, etc. The young leaves and flowers are eaten in salads during times of famine in Cambodia, where the plant is known as ''snaô 'âm'bâhs
(snaô
="edible flowers", 'âm'bâhs''="filamentous",
Khmer language). In local medicine in Cambodia, it is used to treat uterine bleeding. ==Gallery==