Herbs, erect to decumbent, sparsely to much-branched, to 15 dm. Stems sparsely pubes­cent on ridges or glabrous. Leaves 3.5–12 cm; stipules persistent, 3.6–12 mm, with small, winged margin at base opposite petiole, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; petiole 2–10 mm; pinnae 5–18 pairs; nectary present or absent, sessile, crateriform, between proximal pair of pinnae; leaflets 30–70, blades 1.7–6 mm, venation obscure except for nearly centric midvein, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles 1–6 cm, 1.8–6.5 cm in fruit. Heads 1(or 2) per axil, 22–71-flowered, usually all bisexual, occasionally with a few functionally staminate and sterile flowers at base; sterile flowers 0–2 per head; bisexual flowers 22–69 per head. Flowers: stamens 5; staminodia 4–6 mm; style not exserted beyond stamens. Legumes in tight, globose clusters, dark brown, slightly to strongly incurved-falcate, oblong, not constricted between seeds, tardily dehiscent along abaxial suture, dehiscent initially only along adaxial one, 1.5–3.2 cm × 4.5–7 mm, apex acute or attenuate with beak 1–2 mm. Seeds inserted transversely. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jun(–Aug), fruiting Jul–Oct.
Habitat: Edges of swamps and marshes, bottomlands, breaks of rivers, creeks, wet prairies, drier areas with oak, pinyon, mesquite, and yucca, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–1500 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Ark., Colo., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah.

Discussion

Desmanthus illinoensis is the most common species of the genus in the flora area. It is native in the central part of its range but may be introduced in the farthest eastern and western parts. Desmanthus illinoensis is easily recognized by its erect habit with tight clusters of oblong, falcate fruits. It is being studied as a potential food and forage crop for temperate climates.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.