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western trailing ticktrefoil

Scientific Name: Desmodium procumbens var. exiguum

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Desmodium procumbens: Western Trailing Ticktrefoil

Desmodium procumbens, commonly known as western trailing ticktrefoil, is a forb/herb belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae).

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is known as a ticktrefoil, which may suggest the presence of small parts that could potentially attach to animal fur.
  • The plant may have trailing stems, which could present a tripping hazard for small animals.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Desmodium procumbens (Mill.) Hitchc.
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Synonyms:
    • Desmodium sylvaticum Benth.
    • Desmodium tenuiculum DC.
    • Desmodium spirale DC.
    • Hedysarum procumbens
  • Varieties:
    • Desmodium procumbens (Mill.) Hitchc. var. exiguum (A. Gray) B.G. Schub.
    • Desmodium procumbens (Mill.) Hitchc. var. procumbens

Common Names

  • Western trailing ticktrefoil
  • Western trailing tickclover
  • Tick clover
  • Eastern Trailing Tick-trefoil (referring to Desmodium humifusum which is sometimes confused with D. procumbens)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Desmodium procumbens is native to North America, specifically the US Lower 48.
  • Desmodium humifusum or Eastern Trailing Ticktrefoil is found in North America, particularly in the states of Western Trailing Ticktrefoil.
  • Historically known from NJ west to MO and south.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Desmodium procumbens is a forb/herb, a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
  • It is a perennial herb.
  • It can have stems that are woody below or from a woody crown or caudex.
  • It has a taproot.
  • It features stems that are prostrate, trailing, or mat-forming.
  • Stems can reach up to 3 feet long.

Quirky Facts

  • Round-leaved trailing tick-trefoil (Desmodium rotundifolium), a similar species, is listed as threatened in Vermont and New Hampshire.
  • In Spanish, Desmodium procumbens is sometimes called "pega pega".

Further Information

  • Discover Life: For information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Desmodium procumbens.
  • Dave's Garden: A community sharing tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
  • Encyclopedia of Life: For information on Desmodium procumbens var. exiguum.
  • USWildflowers Database: For information on Tick Trefoil.