Sesbania sesban, sithagathi or jait, is a fast-growing, short-lived shrub of wet ground grown for fodder, firewood and green manure. It tolerates waterlogging and fixes nitrogen, so farmers plant it on bunds and in fallow fields. It is a smaller cousin of agathi, Sesbania grandiflora, whose large flowers are eaten.
- Botanical name
- Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Tamil
- Sithagathi
- Hindi
- Jait
- Parts used
- Leaves (fodder), Young pods (sometimes)
- Habit
- Small riverhemp; agathi stays with S. grandiflora
- Last updated
- 2026-10-26
How to recognise Sithagathi
It is a soft-wooded shrub or small tree up to about six metres, with long pinnate leaves of many small, narrow leaflets.
Flowers are small, yellow pea-flowers, often streaked or spotted with purple, in drooping clusters.
The pods are long, thin and cylindrical, holding many small seeds.
Agathi, Sesbania grandiflora, has much larger, white or red, curved flowers and broad pods.
Its stems are soft and pithy, and it grows tall in a single season when water is plentiful.
Traditional use of Sithagathi
Farming
It is grown as fodder for cattle and goats, as firewood, and as green manure ploughed into paddy fields.
Indian farm practice
Modern notes on Sithagathi
Agroforestry research shows it adds large amounts of nitrogen and organic matter to soil, and it grows well in flooded or saline conditions.
The leaves are protein-rich fodder, but they are best fed mixed with other feeds.
Sithagathi safety
The seeds contain saponins and are not food.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to Africa and Asia, including India, and grows on riverbanks, swamp edges and bunds.
It forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on its roots and stems.
It lives only a few years but regrows quickly from seed.
Farmers in waterlogged or salty fields use it to reclaim land, because few other woody plants survive there.
Related plants
Also in Fabaceae
Questions about Sithagathi
Is Sithagathi agathi?
No. Agathi is Sesbania grandiflora.
What older names does Sesbania sesban go by?
Sesbania aegyptiaca.
What is Sithagathi used for?
Fodder, firewood and green manure.
Is Sithagathi a good fodder?
Yes, as part of a mixed diet for cattle and goats.
Where does Sithagathi grow in India?
On bunds, riverbanks and wet fields across the plains.
Sources
- Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q3206585 (Sesbania sesban)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.