The BioFiles - Bill Hubick

Panicledleaf Tick-trefoil (Desmodium paniculatum)

Source: Wikipedia

Desmodium paniculatum

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Desmodium
Species:
D. paniculatum
Binomial name
Desmodium paniculatum
Synonyms[3]
Homotypic synonyms
    • Hedysarum paniculatum L.
    • Meibomia paniculata (L.) Kuntze
    • Pleurolobus paniculatus (L.) MacMill.
Heterotypic synonyms
    • Desmodium dichromum Shinners
    • Desmodium paniculatum var. angustifolium Torr. & A.Gray
    • Desmodium paniculatum var. epetiolatum B.G.Schub.
    • Desmodium paniculatum var. pubens Torr. & A.Gray
    • Desmodium paniculatum var. typicum B.G.Schub.
    • Desmodium pubens (Torr. & A.Gray) M.J.Young
    • Hedysarum paniculatum var. obtusum Desv.
    • Meibomia chapmanii (Britton) Small
    • Meibomia paniculata var. angustifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) Vail
    • Meibomia paniculata var. chapmanii Britton
    • Meibomia paniculata var. obtusa (Desv.) Schindl.
    • Meibomia paniculata var. pubens (Torr. & A.Gray) Vail
    • Meibomia pubens (Torr. & A.Gray) Rydb.

Desmodium paniculatum, the panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil or panicled tickclover, is a perennial herb in the pea family, Fabaceae. Belonging to a nearly cosmopolitan genus, the panicled-leaf ticktrefoil is a common native to Eastern North America, ranging from Quebec to Florida and as far West as Texas, Nebraska, and Ontario.[4][5][6] The sticky loment can be found in disturbed areas that receive plenty of light, such as roadsides, parks, and abandoned fields.[7]

Description[edit]

Desmodium paniculatum grows to 3 feet tall in an erect and spreading habit with alternate, pinnately-trifoliolate leaves. The leaves are lanceolate to oblong and are usually 2 to 10 times as long as wide.[7][8] The pedicels are around 1 cm.[8] The flowers of the paniculate inflorescence are light pinkish to lavender and appear June through September. The sticky loments that many people find attached to their shoes and pants are arranged in a row of 2-6 superiorly sinuate and inferiorly triangular segments and appear August–October.[5][7][8]

Taxonomy[edit]

Desmodium paniculatum was first described as Hedysarum paniculatum by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[9][10] In 1825, the Swiss botanist Augustin de Candolle placed Hedysarum paniculatum L. in genus Desmodium,[2] and so Hedysarum paniculatum is a basionym for Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.[3]

Desmodium paniculatum is a member of the Desmodium paniculatum complex, a group of closely related taxa that includes Desmodium paniculatum sensu stricto, Desmodium glabellum, Desmodium perplexum, and Desmodium fernaldii.[11] Alternatively, some botanists lump the taxa into a single polymorphic species, Desmodium paniculatum sensu lato,[12][13] in which case the taxa become synonyms or varieties of Desmodium paniculatum.

Uses[edit]

While this species hasn't been tested for medically or commercially beneficial compounds like other species of Desmodium, studies have shown the value of this species, as well as other legumes, as a native forage for pasture use.[14] While not as easily digestable and protein-rich as some non-native legumes and grasses, the panicled-leaf ticktrefoil can be a good source of protein-based fodder for livestock during the warmer months of the year.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Desmodium paniculatum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC". USDA. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Desmodium paniculatum". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ^ Isely, Duane (January 1951). "Desmodium: Section Podocarpium Benth". Brittonia. 7 (3): 185–224. doi:10.2307/2804705. JSTOR 2804705. S2CID 41450344.
  7. ^ a b c Weakley, Alan S. (Nov 2012). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States (PDF). Chapel Hill, NC, USA: The University of North Carolina Herbarium. p. 862. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 5 Oct 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Woods, Michael (March 2008). "The Genera Desmodium and Hylodesmum (Fabaceae) in Alabama". Castanea. 73: 46–69. doi:10.2179/07-9.1. S2CID 86491643.
  9. ^ "Hedysarum paniculatum (L.) DC.". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. ^ Linnaeus (1753), vol. 2, p. 749.
  11. ^ Thomas (2020), pp. 29–30.
  12. ^ Ohashi, Hiroyoshi (June 2013). "New combinations in North American Desmodium (Leguminosae: Tribe Desmodieae)". The Journal of Japanese Botany. 88 (3): 166–175. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  13. ^ JIN, Dong-Pil; KIM, Jung-Hyun; SIM, Sunhee; SUH, Hwa-Jung; KIM, Jin-Seok (2021). "New record of an alien plant, Desmodium paniculatum (Fabaceae), in Korea based on a morphological examination and DNA barcoding". Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy. 51 (2): 133–140. doi:10.11110/kjpt.2021.51.2.133.
  14. ^ Posler, G.; Lenssen, A.; Fine, G. (1993). "Forage Yield, Quality, Compatibility, and Persistence of Warm-Season Grass-Legume Mixtures". Agronomy Journal. 85 (3): 554–560. doi:10.2134/agronj1993.00021962008500030007x. S2CID 85092737.
  15. ^ Mcgraw, Robert; Shockley, Floyd (2004). "Evaluation of Native Legume Species for Forage Yield, Quality, and Seed Production". Native Plants Journal. 5 (2). Thompson, John; Roberts, Craig: 152–159. doi:10.2979/NPJ.2004.5.2.152. S2CID 85959047.

Bibliography[edit]