Slender Tick Trefoil
Desmodium varians
Prostrate or climbing herb with stems to 50 cm long. Yellow-green leaves in threes (trifoliate) are actually leaflets, 0.5-4.0 cm long, 5-20 mm wide. Inconspicuous pea-shaped yellowish to white flowers to 5 mm long. Seedpods, 7-20 mm long, in usually 5 segments that separate at maturity.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Herbs |
| Former Scientific Name | Desmodium varians var. gunnii |
| Distinctive Features | Seed pods have a dense covering of hooked hairs to facilitate dispersal. |
| Biology | Perennial. Widespread but not common. Prefers fertile loam. Dies back to rootstock over summer. When it reshoots it first develops a flowerspike at the tip, then develops side branches later. Palatable to livestock. |
| Native Status | Native |
| Flowering Time | Mostly spring to summer, but throughout year |