Desmodium

Desmodium is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family (Fabaceae), comprising herbaceous plants and small shrubs distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae and tribe Desmodieae, with roughly two to three hundred described species, including Desmodium intortum, Desmodium gyrans, and Desmodium canadense. The name Desmodium derives from Greek, often linked to the segmented or “bonded” look of the seed pods.

Description and characteristics

Desmodium species are typically composed of trifoliate or pinnate leaves with several leaflets. Flowers are small and papilionaceous, usually arranged in racemes or spikes and displaying colors ranging from pinks and purples to whites. The fruit consists of slender, flat pods that dehisce and often break into many small segments; the individual pods have a tendency to cling to fur or clothing, giving rise to one of the common names, tick-trefoil.

Ecology and distribution

Desmodium species are versatile in habitats, ranging from grasslands and open woodlands to disturbed sites in tropical and subtropical areas. They are leguminous plants capable of nitrogen fixation through symbiotic rhizobia in root nodules, contributing to soil fertility and ecosystem function. Several species are perennial, while others are annuals or short-lived perennials.

Uses

Desmodium is cultivated as forage and grazing plants for livestock and is used in green manures and cover crops to improve soil quality and suppress weeds. In sustainable agriculture, certain Desmodium species play a role in integrated pest management systems, including push-pull frameworks used in maize-based farming in Africa. Desmodium gyrans is also grown ornamentally for its distinctive moving leaves and is the best known species in cultivation.

See also

Tick-trefoil, Desmodium intortum, Desmodium gyrans.