Stylosanthes guianensis

Stylosanthes guianensis, the stylo, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the New World Tropics and Subtropics, and has been introduced to Puerto Rico, the Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, most of Sub‑Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, the Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Thailand, southeast China, Hainan, Taiwan, New Guinea, Queensland, New Caledonia, and the Cook Islands.^[2][1] An important forage and fodder species, its palatability to livestock increases as the plant matures, making it an unusual, and valuable, deferred feed.^[2] It has high genetic diversity between and among its named varieties.^[3]

Stylosanthes guianensis
Habit
Botanical illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Stylosanthes
Species:	S. guianensis
Binomial name
Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw.
Synonyms[1]
List Astyposanthes gracilis (Kunth) Herter Astyposanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Herter Astyposanthes subviscosa (Benth.) Herter Stylosanthes acuminata M.B.Ferreira & Sousa Costa Stylosanthes aurea M.B.Ferreira & Sousa Costa Stylosanthes biflora var. guianensis (Aubl.) Kuntze Stylosanthes dissitiflora B.L.Rob. & Seaton Stylosanthes eciliata S.F.Blake Stylosanthes gracilis Kunth Stylosanthes gracilis var. subviscosa (Benth.) Burkart Stylosanthes grandifolia M.B.Ferreira & Sousa Costa Stylosanthes guianensis var. dissitiflora (B.L.Rob. & Seaton) 't Mannetje Stylosanthes guianensis f. esetosa Hassl. Stylosanthes guianensis var. marginata Hassl. Stylosanthes guianensis var. pubescens Pilg. Stylosanthes guianensis var. robusta 't Mannetje Stylosanthes guianensis var. subviscosa Benth. Stylosanthes guianensis f. viscosissima Hassl. Stylosanthes guineensis G.Don Stylosanthes juncea f. intermedia Chodat & Hassl. Stylosanthes nunoi Brandão Stylosanthes purpurata S.F.Blake Stylosanthes surinamensis Miq. Stylosanthes virgata Mart. ex Colla Stylosanthes viscosa var. acutifolia Benth. Trifolium fluminense Vell. Trifolium guianense Aubl.

Subtaxa

The following subtaxa are accepted:^[1]

• Stylosanthes guianensis subsp. dissitiflora (B.L.Rob. & Seaton) Mohlenbr. – Mexico, Honduras
• Stylosanthes guianensis var. gracilis (Kunth) Vogel – Guatemala to Argentina, and a few introductions in Africa
• Stylosanthes guianensis subsp. guianensis – Entire range, also the most introduced subtaxon
• Stylosanthes guianensis var. pauciflora M.B.Ferreira & Sousa Costa – Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil