Stylosanthes biflora
sidebeak pencil-flower, endbeak pencilflower, sidebeak pencilflower, pencil flower
Family
Fabaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Type
compound, trifoliolate
Growth Form
forb, vine
Flower Color
yellow
Flower Month
May - September
Height (meters)
0.1 - 1.0
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Warm season
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
8
Field Characters
When sterile Stylosanthes biflora may be confused with Lespedeza sp. and Desmodium sp. Stylosanthes can be identified by the veins on the underside of its leaflets which are lighter in color than the blade, while those of Lespedeza and Desmodium are the same color as the blade.
Animal Use
Desirable to cattle as forage. The seeds are eaten by quail and turkey (Grelen and Hughes 1984).
Natural History
Found frequently in north and central Louisiana and east and southeast Texas. It ranges over most of eastern United States.
Habitat
Dry or rocky woods or barrens, acid soils, sandy open woodlands, prairies, sand dunes.