Few-flowered Tick-Trefoil

(Desmodium pauciflorum)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: © by and courtesy of Stephen J. Baskauf, Vanderbilt University

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

 

Few-flowered Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium pauciflorum [Nutt.] DC.)

Identification: Flowers white, pealike, with lower petals forming an elongate projection. Seedpods jointed with 1 to 4 segments. Flowers arranged sparsely on an elongate flower stem. Leaves with 3 leaflets, each leaflet ovate, tapering at both the apex and the base and borne on short petioles. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Michigan and western New York southward to Florida and Texas.

Habitat: Few-flowered Tick-Trefoil is found in woodland habitats.

Flowering period: July to August.

Similar Species: The white flowers, not pink or lavender, are almost distinctive for this species. A related species (Desmodium illinoense) (not treated here) is found in prairies and has prominent stipules at the base of the leaf petiole.

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