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The villose jointvetches
will grow under similar conditions to the American jointvetches.
Glenn grows well in low-lying coastal country that is seasonally waterlogged.
Although erect and tall (to 2m) when not grazed, it develops a branched
prostrate habit under grazing. Jointvetch seeds heavily when erect making
seed easy to harvest, but also seeds well under grazing so that cattle
soon spread jointvetch through all their paddocks.
Glenn is an annual, flowering fairly late (late April) and setting seed
by June. Cool weather in southern Queensland reduces seed set, while
early frost will kill the plants making it virtually worthless for winter
feed.
Glenn regenerates from seed best in a sparse grass cover after a dry
northern spring, dense grass swards following early spring rains preventing
good regeneration. It combines well with many grasses, frequently being
sown with Kazungula setaria on low-lying wet-lands.
The best management for a persistent content of this palatable legume
is to graze the grass heavily before germinating rains, graze lightly
to allow Glenn to establish, graze heavily again during summer, and
finally to slacken off after late April to allow seeding.
Glenn has caused problems when it has been planted in waterlogged
sites in the monsoonal areas of northern Australia and in melonhole
country in the brigalow lands. It grows so well during summer that it
pushes out less vigorous grasses. With the onset of dry or frosty weather,
Glen is defoliated leaving a stand of virtually worthless stalks as
the only feed available.
Cv. Lee is a late-flowering variety which acts more as a perennial,
being able to persist over mild winters and to flower in spring. Lee
holds its leaf much better than Glenn during winter in Queensland. With
the stronger dry seasons of the monsoonal regions, Lee behaves only
as a late-flowering annual.
The villose jointvetches are perennial
species.
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