Desmodium viridiflorum (L.) DC.

Velvetleaf Tick Trefoil

Desmodium_viridiflorum_plant.jpg
STATS

Native
CC = 10
CW = 5
MOC = 5
SRank = S1

© DETenaglia

Family - Fabaceae/Faboideae

Stems - No info. yet.

Desmodium_viridiflorum_stem.jpg

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_stem2.jpg

© DETenaglia

Leaves - No info. yet.

Desmodium_viridiflorum_leaf.jpg

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_leaf1.jpg

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_leaf2.jpg

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_leaf3.jpg

© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - No info. yet.

Flowers - No info. yet.

Desmodium_viridiflorum_flower.jpg

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_flower2.jpg

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_calyx.jpg Calyx.

© DETenaglia

Desmodium_viridiflorum_fruits.jpg Immature fruits

© DETenaglia

Flowering - July - September.

Habitat - Sandy open woods.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This species can be found only in a few extreme southeastern counties of Missouri. Many plants in this genus are difficult to differentiate, this species is no exception. The leaves (and stems) of D. viridiflorum are covered with hooked pubescence which acts similar to velcro when placed on cloth or in hair. The leaves of this plant are also shiny adaxially. This is a stout plant with big, open inflorescences.
D. dillenii Darl. is similar but is a less stout plant with less pubescence and leaves which are much less shiny adaxially.
D. nuttallii (Schindl.) Schub. is very similar and differs only by having less pubescence on the leaf abaxially, thinner terminal leaflets, and smaller loments (of 2-4 segments) which are concave when mature.

Photographs taken in Brown Summit, NC., 9-14-02.