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Fabaceae
Desmodium

not marked as a favorite taxon Desmodium tenuifolium Torrey & A. Gray. Common name: Slimleaf Tick-trefoil. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Pine savannas, wet pine flatwoods. Distribution: Se. VA south to c. peninsular FL, west to w. LA. Reports from TX are based on misidentifications.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, Fl3, FNA11.1, G, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, SE3, Va, WH3, Isely (1998); = Meibomia tenuifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) Kuntze — S, S13. Basionym: Desmodium tenuifolium Torr. & A.Gray 1840

Links to other floras: = Desmodium tenuifolium - FNA11.1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image #1 of Desmodium tenuifolium© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Desmodium tenuifolium© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Desmodium tenuifolium© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Desmodium tenuifolium© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Desmodium tenuifolium© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect to ascending perennial of wet pine flatwoods and savannas.

Stems: Stems subtly angled, simple or branched from the base, smooth or sparsely and minutely hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; divided into 3 thick-textured, linear leaflets, the terminal leaflet longer (to 2 1/2 in.) than laterals; all leaflets with netted venation, minutely hairy above and sparsely hairy and pale beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers on stalks to 1/3 in. long in a terminal panicle, pink to purplish, 1/4 in. or less long, bilaterally symmetric with typical pea-flower shape.

Fruits: Fruit a flattened pod divided into nearly round segments and covered with minute hairs.

Comments: Differs from the similar D. strictum (p. xx) by having slightly rounded pod segments and occurring in wetter habitats.

Height: 1 1/2-3 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect to ascending perennial of wet pine flatwoods and savannas.

stems: Stems subtly angled, simple or branched from the base, smooth or sparsely and minutely hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; divided into 3 thick-textured, linear leaflets, the terminal leaflet longer (to 2 1/2 in.) than laterals; all leaflets with netted venation, minutely hairy above and sparsely hairy and pale beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers on stalks to 1/3 in. long in a terminal panicle, pink to purplish, 1/4 in. or less long, bilaterally symmetric with typical pea-flower shape.

fruits: Fruit a flattened pod divided into nearly round segments and covered with minute hairs.

comments: Differs from the similar D. strictum (p. xx) by having slightly rounded pod segments and occurring in wetter habitats.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southeastern United States



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