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smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil
Scientific Name: Desmodium marilandicum
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names: NH (Maryland tick-trefoil)
Smooth Small-leaved Tick-trefoil (Desmodium marilandicum)
Also known as Maryland Tick-trefoil, Smooth Tick-trefoil, and Small-leaved Tick-trefoil, Desmodium marilandicum is a perennial forb belonging to the Pea Family.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant produces fruit covered in tiny hooked hairs, which readily attach to fur.
- Most species of Tick-trefoil have thin, woody stems.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Desmodium marilandicum (L.) DC.
- Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
- Synonyms:
- Hedysarum marylandicum L.
- Desmodium metcalfei
- Meibomia marilandica
- Meibomia metcalfei
Distribution and Habitat
- Smooth Small-leaved Tick-trefoil ranges throughout southern and eastern North America.
- It is described as rare in one area.
Morphological Characteristics
- Most Tick-trefoils are herbs or small shrubs.
- Some species are trailing, while others have thin, woody stems.
- Stems are generally smooth.
- Leaves are trifoliate (composed of three leaflets).
- Leaflets are narrowly oblong to lanceolate-oblong and smooth along their margins, with smooth to slightly hairy edges.
- Leaflets have oblique to rounded bases and taper to a sharp pointed tip.
- A pair of small stipules are present at the base of each trifoliate leaf.
Related Species
- Other Desmodium species mentioned include:
- Desmodium molliculum (Kunth) DC.
- Desmodium nudiflorum (syn. Hylodesmum nudiflorum)
- Desmodium concinnum DC.
- Desmodium nemorosum F.Muell. ex Benth.
- Desmodium lineatum (Michx.) DC.
- Desmodium paniculatum
- Desmodium heterocarpon
- Desmodium ciliare
- Desmodium laevigatum
- Desmodium cuspidatum
- Desmodium canadense
- Desmodium glabellum
- Desmodium rotundifolium
- Desmodium longifolium (T. & G.)