Centrosema pubescens Benth.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Yaekela to Lilanda, Oriental, DR Congo © Botanic Garden Meise

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:	Occasionally naturalized
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Perennial twining herb, sometimes forming mats. Leaves 3-foliolate. Leaflets up to 6.5 cm long, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, more or less velvety on both surfaces; petiole 1-5.5 cm long. Inflorescences several-flowered, axillary; peduncle 2.5-5.5 cm long. Standard up to 4 × 3.5 cm, mauve-purple with a white or yellowish central band, often flanked by darker purple lines, pubescent outside, with a short spur outside just above the claw. Pod linear, 5-17 cm long with 2 raised ribs along the edges of the valves, velvety when young, becoming hairless.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	pubescens: velvety, pubescent, with soft short hairs
Habitat:	Cultivated as a pasture legume or a cover crop in coconut plantations and recorded as a naturalised escape in disturbed areas.
Altitude range:	10 - 1280 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native in tropical America; widely cultivated in the Old World and sometimes naturalised
Mozambique distribution:	Z
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 30 September 2012
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 151. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 217. Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 32 - 34. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 46. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 57.

Other sources of information about Centrosema pubescens:

Our websites:

Flora of the DRC: Centrosema pubescens
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Centrosema pubescens
Flora of Zambia: Centrosema pubescens
Flora of Zimbabwe: Centrosema pubescens

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Centrosema pubescens
African Plant Database: Centrosema pubescens
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Centrosema pubescens
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Centrosema pubescens
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Centrosema pubescens
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Centrosema pubescens
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Centrosema pubescens
JSTOR Plant Science: Centrosema pubescens
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Centrosema pubescens
Plants of the World Online: Centrosema pubescens
Tropicos: Centrosema pubescens
Wikipedia: Centrosema pubescens