Desmodium glabellum
(Dillenius' Ticktrefoil)
Desmodium glabellum, Brazos Bend State Park, Ft. Bend Co. 7302
Desmodium glabellum, Brazos Bend State Park, Ft. Bend Co. 7299
Desmodium glabellum, Brazos Bend State Park, Ft. Bend Co. 7305
| Scientific Name | Desmodium glabellum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | DEGL4 |
| Common Name | Dillenius' Ticktrefoil | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 25799 |
| Family | Fabaceae (Pea) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Various slightly dry to dry clay-loam soils in savannas, rocky upland forests, limestone glades, thickets, floodplains, gaps in wooded swamps, and disturbed areas. Plant: Spreading to erect perennial, stems 2 to 4 feet long, single but branched in upper portion with short, fuzzy hairs. Leaves: Compound leaves with three narrowly to broadly-ovate to elliptic or rhombic leaflets; center (terminal) leaflet 1.2 to 3 inches long and 0.7 to 2 inches wide. lateral leaflets 0.8 to 2.4 inches long and 0.4 to 1.4 inches wide; somewhat prominent net-like veins; small hairs on both sides, very blunt tips; stipules not present or are short, less than 1/8-inch long; petioles 3/16 to 1-1/2 inches long with fuzzy hairs. Inflorescence: Long, spread-out terminal racemes (simple or branched) of small pink pea-like flowers; each blossom 1/3-inch across with vertical banner notched at top and two greenish-yellowish spots at base; short pedicels less than 3/8-inch long; pedicels and calyx with fuzzy hairs. Bloom Period: May to September. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Coastal Plain Plants, iNaturalist and USDA Plant Fact Sheet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024