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bundleflower
Scientific Name: Desmanthus
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis)
The Illinois Bundleflower, also known as Prairie Mimosa, Prickleweed, or Illinois Desmanthus, is a native perennial legume with a variety of uses and interesting characteristics.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant produces bean-like seed pods.
Considerations for Children
- The plant is also referred to as Prickleweed.
Scientific Classification
- Scientific Name: Desmanthus illinoensis
- Common Names: Illinois Bundleflower, Prairie Mimosa, Prickleweed, Illinois Desmanthus, Bundleflower, Prairie Bundle Flower, Illinois Bundle Weed, Donkey Beans.
- Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family) / Mimosaceae (Mimosa Family)
- Order: Fabales
- Synonyms: Desmanthus illinoensis (Michaux) MacMillan, MacMill. ex B.L. Rob. & Fernald.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the central and eastern regions of the United States, extending from Mexico.
- Found in prairies, thickets, glades, and rocky areas.
- Specifically occurs in all of Texas except for far west Texas, as well as in prairie remnants and railroad rights-of-way.
Morphological Characteristics
- Herbaceous perennial plant, typically growing to 2-4 feet tall, though it can reach up to 4'3" (1.3 meters).
- Bushy and smooth in appearance.
- Stems are erect, branched, angled, and longitudinally grooved.
- Alternate leaves are 2-4 inches long with many tiny, lance-shaped leaflets, giving a fern-like appearance.
- Flowers are small, white, and crowded in round clusters, appearing fuzzy due to fine, long stamens.
- Produces 1-inch wide bundles of twisted, bean-like seed pods.
Ecological Role
- Nitrogen-fixing plant, enriching the soil.
- Provides nutrition for wild animals, with seeds being a favorite food of birds and deer.
- Acts as a pollinator, attracting butterflies.
Traditional and Modern Uses
- Historically, Illinois Bundleflower was a minor medical plant for Native Americans.
- The Omaha and Ponca tribes called it "rattle plant" because of the sound of the seeds in the pods.
- Some sources suggest it contains DMT in its rootbark and may be used as an ayahuasca additive.
- Cultivated as a seed crop for potential domestication.
Quirky Facts
- The Omaha and Ponca tribes called it "rattle plant" due to the sound of the seeds inside the pods.
- Terrence McKenna mentioned that the Illinois Bundleflower was one of the plants which contains the most DMT of all plants.
Further Information
- Discover Life: Discover Life
- Dave's Garden: Dave's Garden