Arachis villosa Bentham

Leguminosae

Synonyms

Description:

Perennial, summer growing, prostrate, with rhizomes, slow growing; self-pollinating, after flowering at end of spring the ovary buries into the soil to fruit underground, until early winter. .

Distribution:

Eastern Argentina and Western Uruguay up to the Rio de la Plata.

Habitat:

Prefers shallow soils, well drained, stony, poor in P and organic matter. Found in sandy areas (dunes), along major rivers.

Use:

Desired by cattle but poor forage producer; forage of up to 10 % protein, 0.12 % P, resistant to grazing; in winter the stems dry off. Resistant to drought and fire, but not to frosts.

Main References:

Burkart (1952); Fernández et al. (1988); Gregory & Gregory (1979); Krapovickas & Gregory (1994)