Sidebeak Pencil Flower (Stylosanthes biflora)

FamilyFabaceae
Scientific nameStylosanthes biflora
Common name (English)Sidebeak Pencil Flower
Common name (Malay)/
Identified asPioneer plant on Project M.A.R.S.’s land

Stylosanthes biflora, commonly known as sidebeak pencil flower, is a perennial leguminous herb in the Fabaceae family. Native to the Americas, it is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions as a forage crop and cover crop due to its nitrogen-fixing ability and tolerance to poor soils. Traditionally, it has been valued for pasture improvement, soil stabilization, and providing high-protein forage for livestock. With its agricultural, ecological, and soil-enhancing significance, Stylosanthes biflora remains an important species in sustainable pasture management, agroforestry, and tropical agriculture.