Desmodium canadense (L.) DC.

Showy Tick Trefoil

© DETenaglia

Family - Fabaceae/Faboideae

Stems - To +2m tall, herbaceous, erect, pubescent, with vertical striations.

© DETenaglia

Leaves - Alternate, trifoliolate, petiolate, stipulate. Leaflets 3.5-14cm long, ovate to lanceolate, obtuse or short pointed at tip, appressed pubescent above, pilose below. Stipules to 1cm long, pubescent, lanceolate, striate.

© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - Terminal racemes or panicles to +40cm long.

	Portion of the inflorescence.
© DETenaglia

Flowers - Papilionaceous, pink to rose, +/-1cm long. Standard with two yellow spots at base. Stamens diadelphous. Calyx bilabiate, short-tubular. Loments rounded to slightly angled on the ventral margin, rounded on dorsal margin, typically 4-6-jointed, pubescent, to 7mm long, 5mm wide.

	Calyx.
© DETenaglia

© DETenaglia

Flowering - July - September.

Habitat - Prairies, thickets, wet meadows, lake margins, roadsides, railroads.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This tall, weedy species can be found scattered throughout most of Missouri. It can be identified by its large size, large flowers, pubescent stems and leaves, and lanceolate leaflets.
Many plants from this genus are similar, D. canadense is typically more robust than any other species in Missouri. It has dense, large racemes and panicles also.

Photographs taken off Hwy H, Shannon County, MO., 8-10-03 & 7-30-04.