Crotalaria juncea

Sunn hemp

Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)

Crotalaria juncea, sunn hemp (C. juncea 1), is a shrub-like annual plant, 1-3 m tall, with simple elliptic entire leaves and yellow flowers in terminal inflorescences, about 2.5 cm in diameter. The pods are hairy, about 3 cm long, containing numerous small seeds.

Distribution
Sunn hemp is most likely of Indian origin and has been cultivated there since ancient times. Today it has spread worldwide over the tropics.

Use
Sunn hemp is second in importance to jute as a bast fibre. The 90-150 cm long fibres are strong and durable and are used in the manufacture of twine and cordage, fishing nets, matting, sacking, etc. It is also applied in cigarette paper and tissue paper. Outside India it is frequently used as a green manure.

The biggest producer of sunn hemp is India; the main importers are the UK, Belgium and the US.