Taxon: Centrosema pubescens Benth.

Summary

Genus:

Centrosema

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Faboideae

Tribe:

Phaseoleae

Subtribe:

Clitoriinae

Nomen number:

427083

Place of publication:

Comm. legum. gen. 55. 1837 (Ann. Wiener Mus. Naturgesch. 2:119. 1839)

Protologue link:

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k969044/f59.image

Comment:

non Centrosema pubescens auct. pl. (= C. molle Mart. ex Benth.)
Fantz (1996) typified this name on an element equivalent to C. schiedeanum for which it is an earlier name, so C. pubescens must now be adopted in that sense
however, C. pubescens has almost always been used in the past for what is now C. molle Mart. ex Benth.

Verified:

08/08/2011 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

2 (1 active, 1 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Bradburya pubescens (Benth.) Kuntze

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Centrosema galeottii Fantz
Centrosema schiedeanum (Schltdl.) R. J. Williams & R. J. Clem.
Clitoria schiedeana Schltdl.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Brummitt, R. K. 2010. Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants: 61. Taxon 59:1271. Note: proposal withdrawn
Fantz, P. R. 1996. Taxonomic notes on the Centrosema pubescens Bentham complex in Central America (Leguminosae: Phaseoleae: Clitoriinae). Sida 17:321-332.
Hacker, J. B. 1990. A guide to herbaceous and shrub legumes of Queensland University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Australia.
Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 2005. (1681) Proposal to conserve the name Centrosema pubescens (Fabaceae) with a conserved type. Taxon 54:209-210. Note: an attempt to conserve Centrosema pubescens Benth. on an element equivalent to common centro (= C. molle Mart. ex Benth.)
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.

Common names

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Chiapas		Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Ciudad de México		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Colima		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guerrero		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Nayarit		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tabasco		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	El Salvador			Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala			Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua			Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama		w.	Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Colombia			Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Native
Northern America

NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [San Luis Potosí]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Campeche, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Colima, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán]

Southern America

CENTRAL AMERICA: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama (w.), El Salvador
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia

Reference(s)

Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
Schultze-Kraft, R. et al. 1990. Biogeography of Centrosema. In: Schultze-Kraft, R. & R. J. Clements, eds., Centrosema: biology, agronomy and utilization. 59. Note:
- Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali.
- http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MMsSFJwy63gC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Animal food	forage	commercially sold as "belalto", as Centrosema schiedeanum	't Mannetje, L. & R. M. Jones, eds. 1992. Forages. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 4:87. Note: mentions

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=427083. Accessed 12 May 2026.