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Desmodium rotundifolium DC.

Prostrate ticktrefoil, round-leaved trailing ticktrefoil, dollar leaf

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”
SpeciesrotundifoliumFrom Latinrotundus, “circular,round, or spherical;” and folium, “leaf”

About plant names...

Prostrate ticktrefoil is a North American native.

Plants: Prostrate, with green or reddish stems, clambering over the ground up to 3′ (1 m).

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.

Flowers: Pinkish-purple flowers, pea-like in shape, are about ⅜″ (1 cm) in size. They are bilaterally symmetrical, appearing from July to September.

Fruits: Seedpods resemble small pea pods with small hooked hairs and 4-6 segments.

Online References:

Nametheplant.net (Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia)

Nametheplant.net (Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia)

The New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany site

Some similar species:

 

Desmodium rotundifolium (prostrate ticktrefoil, round-leaved trailing ticktrefoil, dollar leaf)

8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

Desmodium rotundifolium (prostrate ticktrefoil, round-leaved trailing ticktrefoil, dollar leaf)

8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)

Desmodium rotundifolium (prostrate ticktrefoil, round-leaved trailing ticktrefoil, dollar leaf)

8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

 
Desmodium canadense

Desmodium nudiflorum

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      

 

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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 rotundifolium (prostrate ticktrefoil, round-leaved trailing ticktrefoil, dollar leaf)

8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Desmodium michauxii (Vail) Daniels

Meibomia michauxii Vail

Meibomia rotundifolia (DC.) Kuntze

 

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

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Range:

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