4059

Forb
Annual

Native? Non-native? perhaps only introduced in the southeastern US

Documented growing wild in GA NC SC

Common in Coastal Plain (uncommon in NC Coastal Plain) (rare in Piedmont)

Look for it in fields, woodland borders, disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora

To see a detailed map, click here

 

LEAVES:
Pinnately compound: 3 leaflets
Alternate

FLOWER:
Summer
Rose-purplish
Bilaterally symmetrical
2-lipped calyx
5-parted papilionaceous corolla
10 stamens, diadelphous, 9 and 1
Superior ovary
Flowers in panicles and racemes

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Loment with 2-7 nearly symmetrical segments

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Fabales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA (5/21/15):
Desmodium tortuosum   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Desmodium tortuosum   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (1968) 098-26-009:
Desmodium tortuosum   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933)
Meibomia purpurea