Desmodium laevigatum (Nuttall) A.P. de Candolle. Common name: Smooth Tick-trefoil. Phenology: Jun-Sep; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Dry oak and pine forests, fields, woodland borders, disturbed areas. Distribution: S. NY west to IN and MO, south to n. FL, Panhandle FL, and TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl3, FNA11.1, G, Il, K4, Mo3, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, SE3, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Isely (1998); = Meibomia laevigata (Nutt.) Kuntze — S, S13; Hedysarum laevigatum Nuttall. Basionym: Hedysarum laevigatum Nutt. 1818
Links to other floras: = Desmodium laevigatum - FNA11.1
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Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to reclining perennial of dry woodlands, clearings, old fields and roadsides.
Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth to minutely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; on long petioles with tiny, linear stipules at the base; divided into 3 oval to oblong leaflets that are shiny green and smooth above, pale and smooth or with hairs on the midrib beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a long, terminal raceme (occasionally some branching); pink to deep rose-pink; about 1/3 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and with typical pea-flower shape, the banner petal with 2 whitish-green spots near the base.
Fruits: Fruit a flattened pod with constrictions between 3-5 seeds, covered with hooked hairs that stick to clothing and fur.
Comments:
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to reclining perennial of dry woodlands, clearings, old fields and roadsides.
stems: Stems unbranched, smooth to minutely hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate; on long petioles with tiny, linear stipules at the base; divided into 3 oval to oblong leaflets that are shiny green and smooth above, pale and smooth or with hairs on the midrib beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a long, terminal raceme (occasionally some branching); pink to deep rose-pink; about 1/3 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and with typical pea-flower shape, the banner petal with 2 whitish-green spots near the base.
fruits: Fruit a flattened pod with constrictions between 3-5 seeds, covered with hooked hairs that stick to clothing and fur.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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