| DESCRIPTION: Erect to semi-erect shrubby legume with woody base. Leaves trifoliolate, leaflets lanceolate to elliptic acute. Inflorescence small capitate spike, yellow papilionaceous flowers with standard. USE: Use as grazed pasture and summer ley especially on heavier textured soils. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial, living 2-4 years. COMMON NAMES: Caatinga stylo. FURTHER INF: Natural distribution restricted to 9-14ºS and 40-46ºW at altitudes between 400-1050 m in Bahia State, Brazil. Often found in variable deciduous forest and thorny thicket Grown to 27°S at 300 m in elevation withstanding night frosts down to -8°C. Occurs in areas with annual rainfall from 400-1200 mm and a 2-7 month dry season. Well-adapted to tropical and subtropical environments with summer-dominant rainfall. Very drought tolerant but does not grow in seasonally flooded soils. Occurs mainly on fertile, medium to heavy textured red or yellow earth but not sands. DM yields up to 4t/ha. |