Pencil flower
Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw.
Stylosanthes guianensis, known as pencil flower, is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family. Native to the New World Tropics and Subtropics, it has been introduced to regions in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. It is valued as a forage and fodder species, with increased palatability to livestock as the plant matures. The species exhibits high genetic diversity across its named varieties.
Description
Stylosanthes guianensis is found in several regions in its native range, including Antioquia, Boyacá, and others in South America, as well as in protected areas like Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena. It has also been documented in various other locations. The plant was first described in 1789 and has since been widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe.
Other common names
Pencil flowerstylo
Distribution
Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés, Vichada · BR · Bolívar · Reserva Nacional Natural Puinawai | ReservaNacional Natural Nukak | Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena | Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro · TW · CK · WS · PW · BI · NR · TD · BF · Núcleo Manuelita · SG · Encino | Floridablanca | Pinchote | San Vicente de Chucurí | Sucre · WF · MV · RW · IN · MY · AO · MG · PG · CN · AU · PF · Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, La Guajira, Guaviare, Huila, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Santander, Tolima, Valle, Vichada · Cuenca de Río Claro · Microcuenca alta de río Tillavá · Tauramena
Synonyms
Stylosanthes biflora var. guianensisTrifolium guianenseTrifolium guyanenseSylosanthes guianensisTrifolium guianensisAstyposanthes guianensisStylosanthes gracilis var. vulgarisStylosanthes guianensis subsp. anomala
