Chamaecrista rotundifolia
(Persoon) Greene

Leguminosae

Synonyms

• Cassia rotundifolia Persoon (1805)

Common names:

Pasto Rastiero, Roundleaf Sensitive Pea

Description:

Herbaceous, perennial, prostrate, up to 50 cm high. Summer growing but active from spring to autumn; two flowering seasons, first in spring and second in summer, therefore two fruit ripening seasons. Autogamous, good seed production with natural reseeding

Distribution:

From Southeast U.S.A. all through Central and South America to 34° South in Uruguay and Argentina.

Habitat:

In open fields, savannas, forest openings; pioneer species on ploughed land, road sides, disturbed forests. It mixes with grasses or with lower shrubs. Grows in many light soils, best in lateritic soils. Found up to 1 600 masl. Susceptible to frosts and droughts.

Use:

Interesting forage for areas with light soils; cultivars already selected in Australia. Medium palatability, not adapted to grazing, but resistant to mowing; Crude protein content up to 11.2 %, P 0.13 %. Seeding rate 4-5 kg/ha with scarified seeds. DM yield over 7 000 kg/ha/year.

Nodulation & N fixation:

Rhizobium nodules of caesalpinoideal type; does not require a specific Rhizobium to nodulate.

References:

Doyle (1998); Fernández et al. (1988); Izaguirre & Beyhaut (in press); Irwin & Barneby (1982); Lewis (1987); Skerman et al. (1991)