Macrotyloma axillaris plant1 B Clarke
Introduced, warm-season, perennial, hairless to very hairy, trailing or twining legume. Leaves have 3 ovate leaflets, which are hairless to hairy, slightly glossy above, matt underneath and to 7.5 cm long. Flowerheads are short racemes in the leaf axils, with 1-2.4 cm long, white to greenish-yellow and pea-like flowers. Pods are broad and flattened; 3-8 cm long, and 5-8 mm broad. Flowering occurs over most of the growing season. A native of Africa, the Middle East and Sri Lanka, it is sown for grazing and agroforestry. Suited to well-drained moderately fertile soils, in areas out of reach of heavy frosts. It is very tolerant of drought, but not of very acid, low fertility or waterlogged conditions. Archer is the only variety sown. A high quality, productive and non-bloating species that provides early spring growth. Provides excellent standover feed for the autumn/early winter feed gap. One of the best tropical legumes for suppressing weeds. It is susceptible to continuous heavy grazing, needing long spells between grazing. Remove stock when there is still plenty of stem and some leaf (at least 15 cm height) to maximise persistence and production. The more leaf left on the plant, the faster the regrowth.
Macrotyloma axillaris plant1 B Clarke
Introduced, warm-season, perennial, hairless to very hairy, trailing or twining legume. Leaves have 3 ovate leaflets, which are hairless to hairy, slightly glossy above, matt underneath and to 7.5 cm long. Flowerheads are short racemes in the leaf axils, with 1-2.4 cm long, white to greenish-yellow and pea-like flowers. Pods are broad and flattened; 3-8 cm long, and 5-8 mm broad. Flowering occurs over most of the growing season. A native of Africa, the Middle East and Sri Lanka, it is sown for grazing and agroforestry. Suited to well-drained moderately fertile soils, in areas out of reach of heavy frosts. It is very tolerant of drought, but not of very acid, low fertility or waterlogged conditions. Archer is the only variety sown. A high quality, productive and non-bloating species that provides early spring growth. Provides excellent standover feed for the autumn/early winter feed gap. One of the best tropical legumes for suppressing weeds. It is susceptible to continuous heavy grazing, needing long spells between grazing. Remove stock when there is still plenty of stem and some leaf (at least 15 cm height) to maximise persistence and production. The more leaf left on the plant, the faster the regrowth.