Flemingia strobilifera (L.) W.T. Aiton

Pohon keberuntungan (Flemingia strobilifera) is a shrub up to 3 meters tall of the Fabaceae family, distributed from eastern India to Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Its unique cone-shaped flowers are used as traditional pillow stuffing, while in the Philippines its leaves and flowers are prescribed for TB. Pohon keberuntungan is also believed to help relieve rheumatism and epilepsy.

Grows ideally at elevations of 200-1,600 m above sea level, dry soil and slight shade. Generally grows in open areas or abandoned grasslands.

• Leaves single, long petiole, oval-elliptical to lance-shaped, blunt leaf base, blunt to tapering upper leaf tip, finely hairy underneath.
• Flowers arranged in an elongated raceme in the axil, leaf-like stipule, split at the upper tip, finely hairy sepals, obovate-shaped corolla, thin wings, white or greenish-yellow in color.
• Fruit an elongated pod shape, oblong, finely hairy, 2-seeded.
• Seeds round, blackish-brown, with a red spot.

• Propagated generatively (seed).
• Breaking seed dormancy can be done with hot scarification technique using hot water and soaking for 12-24 hours.

Flavanone, glycosides, chalcones, epoxychromenes, pterocarpans, phenolic, tannin, β-sitosterol, Isoflavane (5,7,4'-trihydroxy 8,2',5'-tri(3-methylbut-2-enyl), 5,7,2',4'tetrahydroxyisoflavone; 5,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone.

Treats TB, rheumatism, fever, epilepsy, digestive disorders, reduces pain, swelling, postpartum care, vermifuge, sleep aid, contraceptive, has anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity.

• Pick fresh, undamaged keberuntungan leaves.
• Wash with running water then air-dry the leaves without direct sunlight exposure until evenly dry (leaves easily crumble when squeezed).
• Pack in clean, airtight plastic. Store in a room at room temperature with good ventilation.

Apa-apa kebo, Gatak (Java), Hahapaan (Sunda).