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Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.

Panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderFabalesLegumes (pea and bean families)
FamilyFabaceaeLegume family (peas and beans)
GenusDesmodiumFromthe Greek desmos, “bond, fetter, halter, or chain”
SpeciespaniculatumWith the flowers in panicles

About plant names...

This perennial wildflower is a native of China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, now naturalized in North America. It prefers thinly wooded bluffs, rocky or sandy open woodlands, savannas, woodland edges, thickets, rocky glades, and partially shaded roadside embankments. It is more common in soils disturbed by logging or fire.

Plants: Up to 3½′ (1 m) tall.

Leaves: lanceolate to elliptic to oblong, alternate, and usually 2 to 10 times as long as wide. Leaves are compound, pinnately-trifoliate—comprised of three leaflets. Each leaflet can be as much as 3½″ (8.9 cm) × ¾″ (1.9 cm), though they are typically smaller. Leaf edges are entire. Upper left surfaces are medium green, while undersides are a lighter color due to presence of tiny whitish hairs.

Flowers: Upper stems are topped with either racemes or narrow panicles of bright pink to lavender flowers. They appear from June through as late as November. Each flower is on a stem (petiole) ½″ (1.3 cm) long. It is about ½″ (1.3 cm) in size, comprised of an upper pink petal called the banner, with two tiny yellow spots at its base; and four small lower petals.

Fruits: Seed pods, called loments, have tiny sticky hairs that adhere to passing animals. They are up to 1½″ (3.8 cm) long.

Online References:

Illinoiswildflowers.info

Coastalplainplants.org

Wikipedia

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Some similar species:

 

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/29/2016 · Mass­a­chu­setts

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/29/2016 · Mass­a­chu­setts

 
Desmodium canadense

Desmodium nudiflorum
You are here
Desmodium paniculatum
Common Name

showy tick trefoil

naked tick-trefoil

panicled tick-trefoil
Plant Up to 3′ (91 cm) tall, usually erect, sometimes canted at angles or lying along the ground. Stems are covered with fine white hairs, and have long vertical striations. A leafy stem 4-12″ (10-30 cm) high is topped by leafless racemes of delicate, usually pink flowers. Up to 3½′ (1 m) tall.
Flowers Panicles up to 8″ (20 cm) long, with pink flowers each about ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) long. Each flower consists of an upward-pointing petal and a downward-pointing pouch-shaped petal. Flower-bearing stems, which are devoid of leaves. Flowers appear in racemes, emerging from the stems in pairs, and are somewhat unevenly distributed. Each flower is pink or purplish, rarely white, and ¼-5/16″ (6.3-8.4 mm) long. It has a rounded upper petal that is somewhat heart-shaped. Below are 3 more petals, two narrow, rounded petals called “wings,” and a central thinner petal. The flowers are on stalks, usually dull red, up to ¾″ (1.9 cm) long. Upper stems are topped with either racemes or narrow panicles of bright pink to lavender flowers. They appear from June through as late as November. Each flower is on a stem (petiole) ½″ (1.3 cm) long. It is about ½″ (1.3 cm) in size, comprised of an upper pink petal called the banner, with two tiny yellow spots at its base; and four small lower petals.
Leaves Roughly oval in shape, often wider near the base, and 1½-3½″ (3.8-8.9 cm) long × ½-1¾″ (1.3-4.6 cm) in size. They often occur in groups of three. Leaves occur on a separate stem from the flowers. Each leaf, on a stem 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) long, is a compound leaf comprised of three leaflets. Each leaflet is 1½-4″ (4-10 cm) × 1½-2½″ (3.8-6.3 cm). Each terminal leaflet is on a mini-stem—a “petiolule”—¾″ (1.9 cm) long, while the two smaller side leaflets are on petiolules ⅛″ (3.2 mm) long. Lanceolate to elliptic to oblong, alternate, and usually 2 to 10 times as long as wide. Leaves are compound, pinnately-trifoliate—comprised of three leaflets. Each leaflet can be as much as 3½″ (8.9 cm) × ¾″ (1.9 cm), though they are typically smaller. Leaf edges are entire. Upper left surfaces are medium green, while undersides are a lighter color due to presence of tiny whitish hairs.
Fruit Seedpods loosely resemble peas, and are up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) long, consisting of several light green segments, each shaped like the letter 'D'. The pods have velcro-like hairs that adhere to passing animals and amateur botanists. Flat, segmented pods consist of one to four lobes. Each lobe is a half-circle, with the flat sides along the stem. Short, hooked, velcro-like hairs on these pods help them hitch a ride on passers-by. Seed pods, called loments, have tiny sticky hairs that adhere to passing animals. They are up to 1½″ (3.8 cm) long.
Range/ Zones

Habitats   Mesic, damp, deciduous forests with rich soil and partial sunlight. Thinly wooded bluffs, rocky or sandy open woodlands, savannas, woodland edges, thickets, rocky glades, and partially shaded roadside embankments. It is more common in soils disturbed by logging or fire.
Type Wild Wild Wild
Occurrence      

 

 
Desmodium rotundifolium
Common Name

prostrate ticktrefoil
Plant Prostrate, with green or reddish stems, clambering over the ground up to 3′ (1 m).
Flowers Pinkish-purple flowers, pea-like in shape, are about ⅜″ (1 cm) in size. They are bilaterally symmetrical, appearing from July to September.
Leaves Alternate, in clusters of three, on stems up to ⅜″ (1 cm). The main leaflet is up to 1¾″ (5 cm), and almost round. The two side leaflets are about two-thirds the size of the main one, and ovate.
Fruit Seedpods resemble small pea pods with small hooked hairs and 4-6 segments.
Range/ Zones

Habitats Forest path edges, oak-hickory or oak forests
Type Wild
Occurrence Uncommon

 

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

 

Desmodium paniculatum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 23 Aug 2023.

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Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-trefoil, panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil, panicled tickclover)

8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Range:

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