Stylosanthes seabrana was first formally described as a new species in 2002 following extensive morphological and agronomic characterization, accompanied by genetic and molecular studies. Since then it has been proposed as a synonym of Stylosanthes scabra Vogel. This paper refutes this synonymization and indicates the indisputable evidence that S. seabrana, a diploid, is a likely putative progenitor of the allotetraploid S. scabra.