Large-bracted Tick-Trefoil

(Desmodium cuspidatum)

 

   

 

 

Color photograph: Homer D. House. 1918. Wildflowers of New York.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Large-bracted Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium cuspidatum [Muhl. ex Willd.] DC. ex Loud.)

Identification: An erect plant. Flowers lavender, pealike, lower petals elongate and projecting outward. The upper "petal" with two dark, basal spots. Flowers arranged sparsely on an elongate flowering stem. Seedpods jointed with 1 to 7 segments. Leaves arranged alternately on the entire stem. Each leaf with 3 leaflets, leaflets ovate-elongate, pointed at the apex. Plant 2 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America.

Habitat: Large-bracted Tick-Trefoil is a woodland species.

Flowering period: July to August.

Similar Species: At first glance Large-bracted Tick-Trefoil could be mistaken for either Naked-flowered Tick-Trefoil or Pointed-leaved Tick-Trefoil. However both of these species have the leaves in a whorl about the stem. In contrast the leaves of Big-bracted Tick-Trefoil occur singly and alternately about the stem.

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