Stylosanthes guianensis (Aublet) Swart
var. subviscosa Bentham

Leguminosae

Synonyms

• Stylosanthes gracilis Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth var. subviscosa (Bentham) Burkart (1939)
• Stylosanthes hippocampoides Mohlenbrock (1958)

Common names:

Brazilian Lucerne, Nigerian Stylo, Stylo

Description:

Perennial, sub-shrubby, erect, woody base, up to 60 cm high. Great variation intra- and inter-specific; better classified using both morphological and agronomic traits. Summer growth, prolonged in the absence of droughts or winter frosts.

Distribution:

Distribution from Northeast Brazil, Central-Eastern Argentina, Paraguay, to Northern Uruguay.

Habitat:

On fertile soils, rather humid, gently rolling to hilly areas, sometimes drier and of low acidity.

Use:

In Australia frost-resistant cultivars have been developed, both long day flowering for coastal areas and short day flowering cultivars, frost-susceptible, for tropical areas. Good quality forage cultivated in Australia, Africa, U.S.A.; good for erosion control and pioneering on wastelands in tropical/subtropical humid areas. Seeds germinate easily. Desired by cattle, disappears following intensive grazing.

References:

Allem & Valls, (1987); Burt et al., (1971); Ferreira & Costa, (1979); Gallinal et al. (1938); Izaguirre & Beyhaut, (1998); 't Mannetje, 1965; Speroni & Izaguirre, (1994)