''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time. These are mostly inconspicuous plants; few have bright or large flowers. Though some can become sizeable plants, most are

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

s or small

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s. Their fruit are

loment A loment (or lomentum) is a type of dehiscent legume fruit that breaks apart at constrictions occurring between segments, so that each segment contains one seed. It is a type of schizocarp. Tick trefoil (''Desmodium'') and sweet vetch (''Hedysarum ...

s, meaning each seed is dispersed individually enclosed in its segment. This makes them tenacious plants and some species are considered weeds in places. They have a variety of uses.

Uses

Several ''Desmodium'' species contain potent secondary metabolites that are released into the soil and aerially.

Allelopathic Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have ben ...

compounds are used in agriculture in push-pull technology: ''

Desmodium heterocarpon ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time. These are mostl ...

'', ''

Desmodium intortum ''Desmodium intortum'', known as greenleaf desmodium and also as beggarlice along with other members of its genus, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Desmodium'', native to Mexico, Central America, northern South America, the Galápag ...

'', and ''

Desmodium uncinatum ''Desmodium uncinatum'', the silverleaf desmodium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Latin America, and introduced as a fodder to various locales in Africa, India, New Guinea, Australia and Hawaii. Although chiefly ...

'' are inter-cropped in maize and

sorghum ''Sorghum'' () is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the grass family (Poaceae). Some of these species are grown as cereals for human consumption and some in pastures for animals. One species is grown for grain, while many othe ...

fields to repel ''

Chilo partellus ''Chilo partellus'', the spotted stalk borer or spotted stem borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Charles Swinhoe in 1885. It is found in India, Pakistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, ...

'', a stem-boring grass moth, and suppress witchweeds, including Asiatic witchweed (''Striga asiatica'') and purple witchweed (''S. hermonthica''). High amounts of antixenotic allomones produced by ''Desmodium'' also repel insect

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

s. Different ''Desmodium'' species produce different profiles of organic compounds through their root systems. The reasons for the production of these compounds that have benefited cereal crop production are however unknown. Tick-trefoils are also useful as

living mulch In agriculture, a living mulch is a cover crop interplanted or undersown with a main crop, and intended to serve the purposes of a mulch, such as weed suppression and regulation of soil temperature. Living mulches grow for a long time with the m ...

and as

green manure In agriculture, a green manure is a crop specifically produced to be incorporated into the soil while still green. Typically, the green manure's biomass is incorporated with a plow or disk, as is often done with (brown) manure. The primary goal ...

, as they are able to improve soil fertility via nitrogen fixation. Most also make good

fodder Fodder (), also called provender (), is any agriculture, agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, domestic rabbit, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food g ...

for animals including bobwhite, turkey, grouse, deer, cattle and goats. Some ''Desmodium'' species have been shown to contain high amounts of tryptamine alkaloids, though many tryptamine-containing ''Desmodium'' species have been transferred to other genera. The

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...

s of the lesser grass blue (''Zizina otis'') and the

two-barred flasher ''Astraptes fulgerator'', the two-barred flasher, is a spread-wing skipper butterfly in the genus '' Astraptes'' which may constitute a possible cryptic species complex. It ranges all over the Americas, from the southern United States to north ...

(''Astraptes fulgerator'') feed on tick-trefoils. Deer also appear to rely on some species in certain areas, particularly during the more stressful summer months.

Taxonomy and systematics

The taxonomy and

systematics Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees (synonyms: cladograms, phylogenetic tre ...

of the many dozens of ''Desmodium'' species are confusing and unresolved. Related genera such as ''

Codariocalyx ''Codariocalyx'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. This genus has been largely debated with the genus ''Desmodium ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabac ...

'', ''

Hylodesmum ''Hylodesmum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, sometimes called ticktrefoils or tick-trefoils. It is sometimes treated as part of ''Desmodium ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes c ...

'', '' Lespedeza'', '' Ohwia'', and ''

Phyllodium ''Phyllodium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,Desmodium spirale ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time. These are mostly ...

'' as described by August Grisebach might refer to a distinct species, but its validity is doubtful. The "''Desmodium spirale''" of other authorities may refer to '' D. neomexicanum'', '' D. ospriostreblum'', or '' D. procumbens''. Similarly, the plant originally described as ''D. podocarpum'' by

A. P. de Candolle Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candolle ...

is ''

Hylodesmum podocarpum ''Hylodesmum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, sometimes called ticktrefoils or tick-trefoils. It is sometimes treated as part of '' Desmodium''. Species Species in ''Hylodesmum'' include: * '' Hylodesmum densum'' * ''Hylo ...

'' today, but "''Desmodium podocarpum''" might also refer to '' D. hookerianum'' or ''

Hylodesmum laxum ''Hylodesmum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, sometimes called ticktrefoils or tick-trefoils. It is sometimes treated as part of '' Desmodium''. Species Species in ''Hylodesmum'' include: * '' Hylodesmum densum'' * ''Hylo ...

'', depending on the taxonomic authority.

Selected species

Species include: Ougeinia dalbergioides Bra23

* '' Desmodium acanthocladum'' F.Muell. * '' Desmodium canadense'' (L.) DC. – showy tick-trefoil, Canadian tick-trefoil * ''

Desmodium canescens ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time. These are mostly ...

'' (L.) DC. – hoary tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium ciliare'' (Muhl.) DC. – hairy small-leaved tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium cuspidatum'' (Muhl.) Loudon – toothed tick-trefoil, large-bracted tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium glabellum'' (Michx.) DC. * ''

'' (Michx.) DC. – Asian tick-trefoil * ''Desmodium'' × ''humifusum'' (Muhl. ex Bigelow) Beck * '' Desmodium illinoense'' A.Gray – Illinois tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium incanum'' (Sw.) DC. – creeping beggarweed, Spanish tick-trefoil, Kaimi clover * ''

'' Greenleaf desmodium, kuru vine, beggarlice, tick clovers * ''

Desmodium lineatum ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time. These are mostly ...

'' (Michx.) DC. – linear-leaved tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium marilandicum'' (L.) DC. – smooth small-leaved tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium ospriostreblum'' Chiov. * ''

Desmodium paniculatum ''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 nativ ...

'' (L.) DC. – panicled tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium perplexum'' B.G.Schub. – perplexed tick-trefoil * '' Desmodium rhytidophyllum'' F.Muell. ex

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

* ''

Desmodium rotundifolium ''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time. These are mostly ...

'' DC. – round-leaved tick-trefoil, dollar leaf * ''

Desmodium triflorum ''Grona triflora'', known as creeping tick trefoil or three-flower beggarweed, is a plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to tropical regions around the globe and introduced to subtropical regions including the southern United States. Fil ...

'' (L.) DC. * '' Desmodium tweedyi'' Britton – Tweedy's tick-trefoil * ''

'' (Jacq.) DC.– silver-leaved tick-trefoil, silverleaf * '' Desmodium varians'' (Labill.) G.Don

Formerly placed here

* ''

Codariocalyx motorius ''Codariocalyx motorius'' (though often placed in ''Desmodium''), known as the telegraph plant, dancing plant, or semaphore plant, is a tropical Asian shrub in the Pea Family (Papillionaceae), one of a few plants capable of rapid movement; oth ...

'' – telegraph plant (as ''D. gyrans'', ''D. motorium'', ''D. roylei'') * ''

'' (as ''D. laxum'' DC.) Lespedeza thunbergii2

** ''Hylodesmum laxum'' ssp. ''laxum'' (as ''D. austro-japonense'', ''D. bambusetorum'', ''D. gardneri'' auct. ''non'' Benth., ''D. laxiflorum'' ''sensu'' Miq., ''D. laxum'' var. ''kiusianum'', ''D. laxum'' ssp. ''laxum'', ''D. podocarpum'' auct. ''non'' DC. ''non'' Hook. & Arn., ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''gardneri'' ''sensu'' Bedd., ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''laxum'') * ''

Hylodesmum leptopus ''Hylodesmum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, sometimes called ticktrefoils or tick-trefoils. It is sometimes treated as part of '' Desmodium''. Species Species in ''Hylodesmum'' include: * '' Hylodesmum densum'' * ''Hylo ...

'' (as ''D. gardneri'' Benth., ''D. laxum'' auct. ''non'' DC., ''D. laxum'' ssp. ''leptopus'', ''D. leptopus'', ''D. tashiroi'') * ''

'' (as ''D. podocarpum'' DC., ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''indicum'', ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''japonicum'') ** ''Hylodesmum podocarpum'' ssp. ''oxyphyllum'' (as ''D. fallax'' var. ''mandshuricum'', ''D. japonicum'', ''D. mandshuricum'', ''D. oxyphyllum'' DC., ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''mandshuricum'', ''D. podocarpum'' DC. ssp./var. ''oxyphyllum'', ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''polyphyllum'', ''D. podocarpum'' DC. var. ''typicum'', ''D. racemosum'') * '' Lespedeza thunbergii'' (as ''D. formosum'', ''D. thunbergii'') ** ''Lespedeza thunbergii'' var. ''thunbergii'' (as ''D. penduliflorum'' Oudem.) * ''

Ohwia caudata ''Ohwia caudata'', formerly placed in the genus ''Desmodium'' (as ''D. caudatum''), is a deciduous nitrogen fixing plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found in India, China, Taiwan and other parts of Asia. The shrub grows to a height of about ...

'' (as ''D. caudatum'') * ''

Phyllodium pulchellum ''Phyllodium pulchellum'' is a plant in the family Fabaceae. Medicinal Traditional In Bangladesh, a bark decoction is used for hemorrhage, diarrhea, poisoning and eye diseases. Flowers are used in biliousness. Chemical composition Plant: Bufote ...

'' (as ''D. pulchellum'') * '' Dendrolobium umbellatum '' (as ''D. umbellatum'' (L.) Benth. * '' Dendrolobium triangulare '' (as ''D. Desmodium umbellatum'' Moritz.

References

* (2005)
Genus ''Desmodium''
Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2007-DEC-17.

External links

* Trout, K. (2002)
Trout’s Notes on the Genus ''Desmodium''.
Mydriatic Productions. Better Days Publishing. {{Taxonbar, from=Q258623 Forages Fabaceae genera