Stylosanthes humilis H.B.K., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Stylosanthes figueroae Mohlenbr.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Townsville lucerne, Townsville stylo

French: luzerne de Townsville

Spanish: alfalfa estilosante

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Prostrate to semi-erect herb; stipules scarious, fused to each other and to the basal part of the petiole but with free filiform apices, sparsely glandular-pubescent, persistent even after leaf fall; leaves pinnately trifoliolate; leaflets bluish green, narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, glabrous but for a few scattered, yellowish glandular hairs; inflorescence an axillary or subterminal, few-flowered, congested head, the bracts and bracteoles with a dense clothing of long, stiff, yellowish, glandular hairs; corolla yellow; fruit usually a single 1-seeded article with the style persisting as an apical coiled beak" (Lewis & Owen, 1989).

"Herb with trifoliate leaves, small yellow pea flowers and stipules.  Much-branched, prostrate to ascending perennial herb; stems 3-40 cm long with a line of minute hairs on stem and bristles on most parts.  Leaflets 5-25 mm long, 1.8-5 mm wide.  Pods silky with hook 4-6 mm long.  Seed yellow-brown." (Smith, 2002; pp. 65-66).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grow on a wide range of soils including lighter, poorer quality soils.  Suited to warm humid areas with high rainfall.  Establish on disturbed sites, along roadsides and around settlements." (Smith, 2002; pp. 65-66).

In Fiji, "cultivated near sea level and perhaps locally and sparingly naturalized". (Smith, 1985; p. 259). On Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), introduced with grass seed for a golf course and now naturalized on roadsides and disturbed areas (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 128).

In New Caledonia, "introduit comme fourrage. Moins répandu que S. guianensis mais parfois localement abondant en dehors des pâturages" (MacKee, 1994; p. 90).

Propagation:  "Large amounts of seed produced and dispersed by stock and animal movement, as a contaminant of hay, and by vehicles and machinery, e.g. slashers and graders" (Smith, 2002; pp. 65-66).

Native range:  Mexico; Central and northern South America (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 259) Vouchers cited: DA 2822, DA 2883, DA 3074, DA 12311, DA 13280, DA 5827, DA 7515 Perhaps locally and sparingly naturalized.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10350 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10715 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 119)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 90) Vouchers cited: Botton in Veillon 1124 (NOU), MacKee 23804, MacKee 33177, MacKee 42360, Suprin in MacKee 44391
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 286) Taxon name on voucher: Stylosanthes humilis

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 65-66)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 82) Naturalised
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 128)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Stylosanthes humilis, please let us know.