Desmanthus

Name

Desmanthus (Desmanthus spp.)

Commercial cultivars are predominantly Desmanthus virgatus, but some also of D. bicornutus, D. leptophyllus and D. pernambucanus.

Description

Non-bloating tropical legume that provides high quality feed for cattle and sheep. It is native to northern America, Central and South America and the Caribbean and commonly used as a companion legume in tropical perennial grass pastures. Recruits readily from seed.

Min. average

annual rainfall
550 mm annual rainfall, with a predominance
Sowing rate2–3 kg/ha (pure swards) or 2 kg/ha (mixtures) of germinable seed
Varieties
  • Marc
  • Progardes®
  • Ray®
  • Cowpower®
Desmanthus